ErfWiki - User contributions [en]

ErfWiki:Maintenance Portal

2010-01-13T02:54:27Z

Dan Hoey: /* Long term stuff */

<center>{{portals}}</center>
Things are listed roughly in the order of decreasing urgency: urgent stuff is on top, long term things are in the bottom.

====Ongoing stuff====
* Keep [[Plot Summary]] updated
* Keep [[Descriptive Table of Contents]] updated
** I'm handling this for now, but it still deserves to be here in case I miss an update or fall off the face of the Internet. [[User:Menlo Marseilles|Menlo Marseilles]] 19:56, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
* Do detailed [[Page Annotation]]
* Copy [http://www.giantitp.com/forums/search.php?do=finduser&u=2910 Rob's posts], and Jamie's posts that contain important information about Erfworld on the [http://www.giantitp.com/forums/ GitP forums] and [http://www.erfworld.com/forum/ these forums] to [[Word of the Titans]] article for easier reference and in order to save information.

====Urgent stuff====
* Check all Erfworld-related articles and make sure that they follow Canon/Proposed Canon/Speculation scheme that Rob suggested
* Update other articles with references to the [http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/ comic archive on erfworld.com] (as opposed to that on [http://www.giantitp.com/ GitP.com]). Use the [[Template:Erf|<nowiki>{{erf}} template</nowiki>]].
* Come up with [[Style Guidelines]] for Erfwiki (they are still under discussion, but it would be great if you followed them, and helped [[Talk:Style Guidelines|develop them]]).
* [[Help:Contents|Import Help sections from media wiki]]

====Long term stuff====
* Make [[Plot Summary]] more detailed as Rob wants
* Find and add Erfworld cameos to [[Erf Cameos]].
* Please figure out how to make <nowiki>{{Template:ID}}</nowiki> work to help in wikifying script text. Or explain the really easy way to do what needs to be done–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 02:53, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

====Maintenance Tasks====
* Regularly check on the list of [[Special:WantedPages|Wanted Pages]] to see if there is anything you can contribute.
**1863 of these found at 09:55, 19 May 2009 (UTC)
**441 as of 22:04, 30 May 2009 (UTC)
**20 on June 4, 2009 9:53 (UTC)
**10 on 13 November 2009, 20:55 (UTC)
* Keep an eye on [[Special:DeadendPages|Dead-End]], [[Special:UncategorizedPages|Uncategorized]], and [[Special:LonelyPages|Unused]] pages. As well as [[Special:UnusedCategories|Unused Categories]]. Attempt to fix as appropriate.
** I've been whittling down the Uncategorized pile by putting a "Frame Contents" category on the comic Text/Description pages. After that bit of housekeeping, we may want to request a "Comic" namespace and put those pages there so that other articles show up in the "Random Page" function. [[User:SteveMB|SteveMB]] 18:13, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
** We've knocked out the panels, but the Descriptions and Texts for each panel remain; I dunno what to do. Make a new category? Will their Categories appear on the Panel page as well? Will it throw things off? [[User:Commander I. Heartly Noah|CIHN]] July 17 2009 - oh, noinclude. of ''course'' ...aaaaand... DONE! (June 19) Holy Boop. 1,000 pages.
*** OK, it looks like the wiki pages for comic pages/panels are basically done except for minor format/style tweaking and ongoing additions of updates and annotation footnotes. [[User:SteveMB|SteveMB]] 14:21, 21 July 2009 (UTC)
**** [[Special:UncategorizedPages|Uncategorized Pages]] has been cleaned out again. We'll need to keep an eye out to make sure that the "Frame Contents" category continues to be used correctly with Book 2. --[[User:MisterB777|MisterB777]] 06:09, 8 November 2009 (UTC)
* Review pages for advancement from Speculation to Proposed Canon. New information needs to confirm and/or change old theories, promoting or demoting them in turn.
** A lot of old pages were written as Speculation because the authors were overly cautious. We know a lot more than some people think. I'm working my way through all Pages in the Speculation Category to look for advancement. Rob is only checking pages in the Propose dCanon category, so unless this is done, it will remain Speculation forever. --[[User:Kreistor|Kreistor]] 18:39, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
*[[Wiki Organization]], added this page to help organize wiki as a whole. -- [[User:Paper_Golem|Paper Golem]]
[[Category:Portals]]

ErfWiki:Maintenance Portal

2010-01-13T02:53:02Z

Dan Hoey: /* Long term stuff */ Plea for template help

<center>{{portals}}</center>
Things are listed roughly in the order of decreasing urgency: urgent stuff is on top, long term things are in the bottom.

====Ongoing stuff====
* Keep [[Plot Summary]] updated
* Keep [[Descriptive Table of Contents]] updated
** I'm handling this for now, but it still deserves to be here in case I miss an update or fall off the face of the Internet. [[User:Menlo Marseilles|Menlo Marseilles]] 19:56, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
* Do detailed [[Page Annotation]]
* Copy [http://www.giantitp.com/forums/search.php?do=finduser&u=2910 Rob's posts], and Jamie's posts that contain important information about Erfworld on the [http://www.giantitp.com/forums/ GitP forums] and [http://www.erfworld.com/forum/ these forums] to [[Word of the Titans]] article for easier reference and in order to save information.

====Urgent stuff====
* Check all Erfworld-related articles and make sure that they follow Canon/Proposed Canon/Speculation scheme that Rob suggested
* Update other articles with references to the [http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/ comic archive on erfworld.com] (as opposed to that on [http://www.giantitp.com/ GitP.com]). Use the [[Template:Erf|<nowiki>{{erf}} template</nowiki>]].
* Come up with [[Style Guidelines]] for Erfwiki (they are still under discussion, but it would be great if you followed them, and helped [[Talk:Style Guidelines|develop them]]).
* [[Help:Contents|Import Help sections from media wiki]]

====Long term stuff====
* Make [[Plot Summary]] more detailed as Rob wants
* Find and add Erfworld cameos to [[Erf Cameos]].
* Please figure out how to make {{Template:ID}} work to help in wikifying script text. Or explain the really easy way to do what needs to be done–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 02:53, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

====Maintenance Tasks====
* Regularly check on the list of [[Special:WantedPages|Wanted Pages]] to see if there is anything you can contribute.
**1863 of these found at 09:55, 19 May 2009 (UTC)
**441 as of 22:04, 30 May 2009 (UTC)
**20 on June 4, 2009 9:53 (UTC)
**10 on 13 November 2009, 20:55 (UTC)
* Keep an eye on [[Special:DeadendPages|Dead-End]], [[Special:UncategorizedPages|Uncategorized]], and [[Special:LonelyPages|Unused]] pages. As well as [[Special:UnusedCategories|Unused Categories]]. Attempt to fix as appropriate.
** I've been whittling down the Uncategorized pile by putting a "Frame Contents" category on the comic Text/Description pages. After that bit of housekeeping, we may want to request a "Comic" namespace and put those pages there so that other articles show up in the "Random Page" function. [[User:SteveMB|SteveMB]] 18:13, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
** We've knocked out the panels, but the Descriptions and Texts for each panel remain; I dunno what to do. Make a new category? Will their Categories appear on the Panel page as well? Will it throw things off? [[User:Commander I. Heartly Noah|CIHN]] July 17 2009 - oh, noinclude. of ''course'' ...aaaaand... DONE! (June 19) Holy Boop. 1,000 pages.
*** OK, it looks like the wiki pages for comic pages/panels are basically done except for minor format/style tweaking and ongoing additions of updates and annotation footnotes. [[User:SteveMB|SteveMB]] 14:21, 21 July 2009 (UTC)
**** [[Special:UncategorizedPages|Uncategorized Pages]] has been cleaned out again. We'll need to keep an eye out to make sure that the "Frame Contents" category continues to be used correctly with Book 2. --[[User:MisterB777|MisterB777]] 06:09, 8 November 2009 (UTC)
* Review pages for advancement from Speculation to Proposed Canon. New information needs to confirm and/or change old theories, promoting or demoting them in turn.
** A lot of old pages were written as Speculation because the authors were overly cautious. We know a lot more than some people think. I'm working my way through all Pages in the Speculation Category to look for advancement. Rob is only checking pages in the Propose dCanon category, so unless this is done, it will remain Speculation forever. --[[User:Kreistor|Kreistor]] 18:39, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
*[[Wiki Organization]], added this page to help organize wiki as a whole. -- [[User:Paper_Golem|Paper Golem]]
[[Category:Portals]]

Template:ID

2010-01-13T02:37:20Z

Dan Hoey:

<noinclude>
== Usage ==
Converts a name to a wikified name:
:

<nowiki>[[subst:ID|Stanley]]</nowiki> => [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]] --straightforward substitution
:

<nowiki>[[subst:ID|Stanley the Plaid]]</nowiki> => [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley the Plaid]] -- another straightforward substitution

<nowiki>[[subst:ID|Caster]]</nowiki> => [[Caster]] --Substitution when there is no canonical name is a no-op

<nowiki>[[subst:ID|Stanley|him]]</nowiki>=>[[Stanley the Tool|him]] --Occasionally the plaintext cannot key the appropriate substitution.

: The idea is to be able to wikify a bunch of text with minimal work, just by wrapping

:: <nowiki>[[subst:ID|...]]</nowiki> or occasionally

:: <nowiki>[[subst:ID|Name|...]]</nowiki> around the terms to be wikified, and having the system do the appropriate linkage. This is reliant on a large collection of aliases. but I'm experimenting with two.

: unfortunately, I'm floundering about how to make this work.

[[subst:ID|Stanley]]
</noinclude>

<includeonly>[[#switch: {{{1}}}|Stanley=Stanley the Tool|Stanley the Plaid=Stanley the tool}}|{{{2|{{{1}}}}}}]]</includeonly>

Template:ID

2010-01-13T02:35:10Z

Dan Hoey: Not ready for prime time

<noinclude>
== Usage ==
Converts a name to a wikified name:
:

<nowiki>[[subst:ID|Stanley]]</nowiki> => [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]] --straightforward substitution
:

<nowiki>[[subst:ID|Stanley the Plaid]]</nowiki> => [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley the Plaid]] -- another straightforward substitution

<nowiki>[[subst:ID|Caster]]</nowiki> => [[Caster]] --Substitution when there is no canonical name is a no-op

<nowiki>[[subst:ID|Stanley|him]]</nowiki>=>[[Stanley the Tool|him]] --Occasionally the plaintext cannot key the appropriate substitution.

: The idea is to be able to wikify a bunch of text with minimal work, just by wrapping

:: <nowiki>[[subst:ID|...]]</nowicki> or occasionally

:: <nowiki>[[subst:ID|Name|...]]</nowicki> around the terms to be wikified, and having the system do the appropriate linkage. This is reliant on a large collection of aliases. but I'm experimenting with two.

: unfortunately, I'm floundering about how to make this work.

[[subst:ID|Stanley]]
</noinclude>

<includeonly>[[#switch: {{{1}}}|Stanley=Stanley the Tool|Stanley the Plaid=Stanley the tool}}|{{{2|{{{1}}}}}}]]</includeonly>

Template:ID

2010-01-13T02:05:20Z

Dan Hoey:

<noinclude>
== Usage ==
Converts a name to a wikified name:
:

[[Stanley|Stanley]] => [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]]
:

[[Stanley the Plaid|Stanley the Plaid]] => [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley the Plaid]]
:The idea is to be able to wikify a bunch of text with minimal work.
This is reliant on a large collection of aliases.
:I hope we can get

[[Stanley|him]]=>[[Stanley the Tool|him]] to work,
where the plaintext doesn't specify the character explicitly.
</noinclude>

<includeonly>[[#switch: {{{1}}}|Stanley=Stanley the Tool|Stanley the Plaid=Stanley the tool}}|{{{2|{{{1}}}}}}]]</includeonly>

Template:ID

2010-01-13T01:50:07Z

Dan Hoey: /* Usage */

Template:ID

2010-01-13T01:49:15Z

Dan Hoey: First hack at Template:ID

<noinclude>
== Usage ==
Converts a name to a wikified name:
{{subst:ID|Stanley}} => [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]]
{{subst:ID|Stanley the Plaid}} =: [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley the Plaid]]
The idea is to be able to wikify a bunch of text with minimal work.
This is reliant on a large collection of aliases.
I hope we can get {{subst:ID|Stanley|him}}=>[[Stanley the Tool|him]] to work,
where the plaintext doesn't specify the character explicitly.
</noinclude>

<includeonly>[[{{{1|}}}|{{{2|{{{1}}}}}}]]</includeonly>

Talk:Lady Sylvia Lazarus

2010-01-13T01:15:42Z

Dan Hoey: Poem versus Ossomercide timing

I listed her level as 6, but it could be 7 if she leveled after writing her poem

Changed it to 7, the reason she was selected to kill Ossomer was because killing him was enough exp for her to level.
:But doesn't the poem where she says she's level 6 come ''after'' she killed Ossomer and leveled?–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 01:15, 13 January 2010 (UTC)

ErfWiki:Maintenance Portal

2010-01-03T15:39:57Z

Dan Hoey: /* Maintenance Tasks */ First Intermission 10 fixed

<center>{{portals}}</center>
Things are listed roughly in the order of decreasing urgency: urgent stuff is on top, long term things are in the bottom.

====Ongoing stuff====
* Keep [[Plot Summary]] updated
* Keep [[Descriptive Table of Contents]] updated
** I'm handling this for now, but it still deserves to be here in case I miss an update or fall off the face of the Internet. [[User:Menlo Marseilles|Menlo Marseilles]] 19:56, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
* Do detailed [[Page Annotation]]
* Copy [http://www.giantitp.com/forums/search.php?do=finduser&u=2910 Rob's posts], and Jamie's posts that contain important information about Erfworld on the [http://www.giantitp.com/forums/ GitP forums] and [http://www.erfworld.com/forum/ these forums] to [[Word of the Titans]] article for easier reference and in order to save information.

====Urgent stuff====
* Check all Erfworld-related articles and make sure that they follow Canon/Proposed Canon/Speculation scheme that Rob suggested
* Update other articles with references to the [http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/ comic archive on erfworld.com] (as opposed to that on [http://www.giantitp.com/ GitP.com]). Use the [[Template:Erf|<nowiki>{{erf}} template</nowiki>]].
* Come up with [[Style Guidelines]] for Erfwiki (they are still under discussion, but it would be great if you followed them, and helped [[Talk:Style Guidelines|develop them]]).
* [[Help:Contents|Import Help sections from media wiki]]

====Long term stuff====
* Make [[Plot Summary]] more detailed as Rob wants
* Find and add Erfworld cameos to [[Erf Cameos]].

====Maintenance Tasks====
* Regularly check on the list of [[Special:WantedPages|Wanted Pages]] to see if there is anything you can contribute.
**1863 of these found at 09:55, 19 May 2009 (UTC)
**441 as of 22:04, 30 May 2009 (UTC)
**20 on June 4, 2009 9:53 (UTC)
**10 on 13 November 2009, 20:55 (UTC)
* Keep an eye on [[Special:DeadendPages|Dead-End]], [[Special:UncategorizedPages|Uncategorized]], and [[Special:LonelyPages|Unused]] pages. As well as [[Special:UnusedCategories|Unused Categories]]. Attempt to fix as appropriate.
** I've been whittling down the Uncategorized pile by putting a "Frame Contents" category on the comic Text/Description pages. After that bit of housekeeping, we may want to request a "Comic" namespace and put those pages there so that other articles show up in the "Random Page" function. [[User:SteveMB|SteveMB]] 18:13, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
** We've knocked out the panels, but the Descriptions and Texts for each panel remain; I dunno what to do. Make a new category? Will their Categories appear on the Panel page as well? Will it throw things off? [[User:Commander I. Heartly Noah|CIHN]] July 17 2009 - oh, noinclude. of ''course'' ...aaaaand... DONE! (June 19) Holy Boop. 1,000 pages.
*** OK, it looks like the wiki pages for comic pages/panels are basically done except for minor format/style tweaking and ongoing additions of updates and annotation footnotes. [[User:SteveMB|SteveMB]] 14:21, 21 July 2009 (UTC)
**** [[Special:UncategorizedPages|Uncategorized Pages]] has been cleaned out again. We'll need to keep an eye out to make sure that the "Frame Contents" category continues to be used correctly with Book 2. --[[User:MisterB777|MisterB777]] 06:09, 8 November 2009 (UTC)
* Review pages for advancement from Speculation to Proposed Canon. New information needs to confirm and/or change old theories, promoting or demoting them in turn.
** A lot of old pages were written as Speculation because the authors were overly cautious. We know a lot more than some people think. I'm working my way through all Pages in the Speculation Category to look for advancement. Rob is only checking pages in the Propose dCanon category, so unless this is done, it will remain Speculation forever. --[[User:Kreistor|Kreistor]] 18:39, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
*[[Wiki Organization]], added this page to help organize wiki as a whole. -- [[User:Paper_Golem|Paper Golem]]
[[Category:Portals]]

ErfWiki:Questions

2009-12-21T22:15:09Z

Dan Hoey: /* E-mail verification */

<center><big>Got a question? Ask it here!</big></center>
*Make a new section for each question
*Once your question has been answered, delete the section
*Only delete sections you made
*For questions relating to the story, try the other [[Questions]] page or the [http://www.erfworld.com/forum/ ErfWorld forum].

==Translation of erfworld==
As i had seen from the forum there some people from other countries, like germany in my case, since i must admit that i don't get every joke, a translation would be great. It could be made here in the wiki parallel to the annotations. And as there could work more than one person on this the translation should be appreciating in the end. Unwanted or is this something to work on?
::I'll see if Erfworld is avaliable in other languages. I don't think it is. If you can work on a German translation, that would be great! Be sure to make an account if you plan on doing lots of work. [[User:Miment|Miment]] 22:48, 15 November 2009 (UTC)

==E-mail verification==
I didn't get any e-mail to confirm at my @aol address. I also tried my @gmail.com address and nothing arrived. Is this feature supposed to be working?–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 22:12, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
:Oops, I had not tried the gmail.com address, and it worked. So maybe the warning about @hotmail should also mention @aol.com–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 22:15, 21 December 2009 (UTC)

==Robotics==
I've been considering ways of checking consistency, e.g. that the panel-by-panel annotations have the same footnotes as the page-by-page footnotes. To do this right, I'd want to download wikitext of the annotations pages. Is there a way to do this?–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 22:12, 21 December 2009 (UTC)

ErfWiki:Questions

2009-12-21T22:12:33Z

Dan Hoey: A couple of questions

<center><big>Got a question? Ask it here!</big></center>
*Make a new section for each question
*Once your question has been answered, delete the section
*Only delete sections you made
*For questions relating to the story, try the other [[Questions]] page or the [http://www.erfworld.com/forum/ ErfWorld forum].

==Translation of erfworld==
As i had seen from the forum there some people from other countries, like germany in my case, since i must admit that i don't get every joke, a translation would be great. It could be made here in the wiki parallel to the annotations. And as there could work more than one person on this the translation should be appreciating in the end. Unwanted or is this something to work on?
::I'll see if Erfworld is avaliable in other languages. I don't think it is. If you can work on a German translation, that would be great! Be sure to make an account if you plan on doing lots of work. [[User:Miment|Miment]] 22:48, 15 November 2009 (UTC)

==E-mail verification==
I didn't get any e-mail to confirm at my @aol address. I also tried my @gmail.com address and nothing arrived. Is this feature supposed to be working?–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 22:12, 21 December 2009 (UTC)

==Robotics==
I've been considering ways of checking consistency, e.g. that the panel-by-panel annotations have the same footnotes as the page-by-page footnotes. To do this right, I'd want to download wikitext of the annotations pages. Is there a way to do this?–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 22:12, 21 December 2009 (UTC)

LIAB 12:8

2009-12-19T20:23:10Z

Dan Hoey: /* Notes */ Fix footnote

{{paneler|12|8|LIAB|12|645|340|945|7|9|13}}

=Notes=
#{{note|cardking}} [[King Slately]]'s appearance is much like that of a playing card king.
[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|012:8]]

LIAB 12:3

2009-12-19T20:20:26Z

Dan Hoey: Copy fn from page-by-page

{{paneler|12|3|LIAB|560|24|880|345|2|4|13}}

----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|Einstein}} This is a reference to a quote by real-world scientist Albert Einstein: "The individual must not merely wait and criticize he must defend the cause the best he can. The fate of the world will be such as the world deserves."

[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|012:3]]

Erfworld Geography

2009-12-16T20:13:53Z

Dan Hoey: /* Locations */ Mountains near Gobwin Knob

=Proposed Canon=

==Terrain==

[[Erfworld]] has the many [[Terrain Type]]s, paralleling the terrain of the real world.

==Locations==

We know only a little about where various [[City|Cities]] and [[Side]]s are located, relative to each other. As yet there has been no large-scale map of [[Erfworld]] in the comic. However, we do know a little about locations.

There are a few [[Hex|locations known by their hex coordinates]]. One, location X: -1214 Y: 455, is presumably quite near to [[Gobwin Knob]].
There are six or seven hundred mountain hexes within range of a 56-move [[Dwagon]] based at [[Gobwin Knob]]. That's counting valley hexes as one move, mountain hexes as two moves, and high mountain hexes as three moves.{{blog|2009|00|summer-updates-035}}

[[Faq]] is north of [[Transylvito]] and is relatively close to it. The seaport city of [[Aqua Velva]] is part of [[Transylvito]]. To the southwest of Faq lies the city of of [[Carport]]. [[Jitterati]] is to its northwest and [[Gobwin Knob]] is to its east.

[[Unaroyal]] bordered on [[Gobwin Knob]]'s east until its conquest, and was the [[side]] to take [[Warchalking]], which is slightly east of [[Gobwin Knob]]. It also shared a border with [[Jetstone]]. The [[city]] of [[Unabrow]] is near the capital [[City of Unaroyal]], and about 200 hexes from the capital city of [[Gobwin Knob]].

[[Jetstone]] did not originally border [[Gobwin Knob]], but does do so now that most of [[Unaroyal]]'s former territory has been taken over by [[Gobwin Knob]]. [[Jetstone]]'s nearest cities to [[Gobwin Knob]] are [[Bridgestone]] and [[Firestone]].

[[Haggar]] is east of [[Jetstone]], with [[Pantstown]] as a frequent disputed city between them. Near the border are [[Oshkosh]], [[Sansabelt]] and [[Toughskin]] on the [[Haggar]] side.

Far to the south are the Southern Desert Wastes, where [[Dagwood]] exists (or existed), along with the side run by [[Overlord|Lord]] [[Shelby the Cobra]].

[[Charlie]] mentions that no [[Royal]] side West or South of him will talk to him, suggesting that he is to the North and East of the members of the [[Royal Crown Coalition]].

[[Category:Proposed Canon]]
[[Category:Locations of Erfworld]]

=Speculation=
[[File:ErfworldMap2roughD-1.jpg|thumb|right|600px|'Speculative Erfworld map by [http://www.erfworld.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2059 DorianMode].']]

The geographic arrangement of Erfworld sides has some similarities to the relative positions of American cities.

Faq and Queen Jillian have as their natural allies the [[Western Giants]] - which are styled after the San Francisco Giants baseball team. Their east-Asian raiment fits with San Francisco's high Asian population, while King Banhammer's philosophical bubble kingdom matches with the US city's reputation as a liberal ivory tower (much like the white marble tower serving as Faq's garrison).

Faq's neighbor to the north, Jitterati, is styled after Starbucks Coffee, a Seattle-based chain. Transylvito is to the south of Faq and bears some likeness to the lavish excess of a Las Vegas Casino. It is also worth noting that Transylvito is partially styled on Mario Puzo's "The Godfather", wherein the Corleone family relocate their operation to the city of Las Vegas.

Gobwin knob is located to the east of all these cities; this fits with its barren and mountainous terrain type, which is most similar to the American southwest and rocky mountain region.

Unaroyal, on the far side of Gobwin Knob and possibly to its east, had a chief warlord named K.C. This name was interpreted by readers as a reference to the Kansas City Royals, a team from a U.S. location to the east of all other possibly analagous regions.

Decrypted

2009-12-16T00:52:08Z

Dan Hoey: /* Speculation */ Popped again as a joke

{{ImageStackRight|430|
[[File:Wandas_army.JPG|thumb|right|400px|Wanda decrypts an RCC army]]
}}

=Proposed Canon=

"Decrypted" is the term given to the upgraded [[uncroaked]] (or "popped again") [[Wanda Firebaugh|Wanda]] creates after attuning to the [[Arkenpliers]]. Decrypt is used as a verb (he was decrypted), an adjective (a decrypted unit), and a noun (decrypted retain their stats), similar to the usage of [[uncroaked]]. Decrypted superficially appear to be alive, lacking the physical evidence of the trauma that [[croaked]] them.

Unlike uncroaked units, decrypted units do not decay.{{erf|1|145}}

Decrypted are loyal to the tool wielder, regardless of past allegiances, but still remember their past loyalties, any information they knew in the past, and loves. {{blog|2009|09|summer-updates-033}}

Many [[unit]]s that could not be uncroaked are [[decryptable]]. (For example, [[Wiener Rammers]] can be decrypted.)

Decrypted units have zero upkeep cost and retain more of their pre-death strength, if not full strength, than uncroaked.{{erf|1|145}}

When destroyed, Decrypted turn to dust like the [[Uncroaked]]. Units cannot be Decrypted more than once.{{blog|2009|10|summer-updates-043}}

Decrypted [[Natural Allies]] are units of the side of the wielder of the Arkempliers, and don't count as a separate [[tribe]], so if all members of a Natural Allies tribe are croaked, not even Decrypting them can allow to build more units of their former tribe.{{blog|2009|10|summer-updates-045}}

=Speculation=

The unit is enslaved to [[Wanda]] and may suffer a major mental attitude adjustment (e.g. "You were correct, of course. Royalty is obsolete."{{Erf|1|145}}) possibly due to a change in its Natural [[Thinkamancy]] or a choice made by [[Wanda]] at the time of decryption; otherwise, the Unit retains all of its previous [[Unit#Statistics|stats]], [[Unit#Natural Abilities|abilities]], and [[Level|levels]], but it may suffer a demotion if it was of a high rank and that position is already occupied by another [[Unit]].

As with [[Uncroaked|uncroaking]], uniforms and insignia are changed when the uncroaked join their new side. Decrypted seem to gain Wanda's insignia {{erf|1|144}} rather than the insignia of their chief warlord {{erf|1|116}}, but this is [[Wanda]]'s choice for units she creates {{blog|2009|08|summer-updates-026}} rather than a feature of decryption itself. Units like [[Wiener-Rammers]] with no uniform may suffer a change of color in skin or fur.{{erf|1|146}}

Wanda may be able to see through her units eyes, and if not, they will tell her anything relevant that happened to them. {{blog|2009|10|summer-updates-044}}

Decrypted still are able to gain [[experience]].

As they have zero upkeep, it is unlikely that any food pops for them, and thus unlikely that they need to eat and drink. It is unclear whether they can eat and drink.

It is unknown as of yet exactly how the Arkentools do what they do. It seems that they give Wanda an advanced form of Croakamancy, but it is a theory that it makes a combo-caster. Allowing Wanda to use a Croakamancy/Healomancy/Turnamancy spell to make the decrypted.

I suspect the concept of being "popped again" refers to the subjective cognitive dissonance between one's past loyalties and one's current loyalties. It may be only a joking reference to the Christian concept of being [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_again_(Christianity) born again].

=Real World References=

Decryption, in the real world, is used as the opposite of encryption, that is protecting data by turning it into a seemingly random sequence of symbols by means of a cypher and a key. Decryption is the opposite process, which takes useless gibberish and turns it into useful information, paralleling the process of taking a useless corpse and turning it into a useful creature. The same term is sometimes also used for removing desired content from protected sources (such as DVDs, music files and books). In this case, Wanda might have gained the ability to effectively remove the "DRM" from enemy units, allowing her to raise them without penalties and under her control. Alternately, the process of updating the MMORPG [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons_Online DDO] contains a decrypting step, possibly suggesting the process is just an update to the units rules.

This makes the term a double pun, the 1st one being on "getting the unit out of a crypt".

[[Category:Real World References]]
[[Category:Unit]]
[[Category:Proposed Canon]]
[[Category:Speculation]]

Decrypted

2009-12-16T00:49:12Z

Dan Hoey: /* Speculation */ Popped again as a subjective feeling

{{ImageStackRight|430|
[[File:Wandas_army.JPG|thumb|right|400px|Wanda decrypts an RCC army]]
}}

=Proposed Canon=

"Decrypted" is the term given to the upgraded [[uncroaked]] (or "popped again") [[Wanda Firebaugh|Wanda]] creates after attuning to the [[Arkenpliers]]. Decrypt is used as a verb (he was decrypted), an adjective (a decrypted unit), and a noun (decrypted retain their stats), similar to the usage of [[uncroaked]]. Decrypted superficially appear to be alive, lacking the physical evidence of the trauma that [[croaked]] them.

Unlike uncroaked units, decrypted units do not decay.{{erf|1|145}}

Decrypted are loyal to the tool wielder, regardless of past allegiances, but still remember their past loyalties, any information they knew in the past, and loves. {{blog|2009|09|summer-updates-033}}

Many [[unit]]s that could not be uncroaked are [[decryptable]]. (For example, [[Wiener Rammers]] can be decrypted.)

Decrypted units have zero upkeep cost and retain more of their pre-death strength, if not full strength, than uncroaked.{{erf|1|145}}

When destroyed, Decrypted turn to dust like the [[Uncroaked]]. Units cannot be Decrypted more than once.{{blog|2009|10|summer-updates-043}}

Decrypted [[Natural Allies]] are units of the side of the wielder of the Arkempliers, and don't count as a separate [[tribe]], so if all members of a Natural Allies tribe are croaked, not even Decrypting them can allow to build more units of their former tribe.{{blog|2009|10|summer-updates-045}}

=Speculation=

The unit is enslaved to [[Wanda]] and may suffer a major mental attitude adjustment (e.g. "You were correct, of course. Royalty is obsolete."{{Erf|1|145}}) possibly due to a change in its Natural [[Thinkamancy]] or a choice made by [[Wanda]] at the time of decryption; otherwise, the Unit retains all of its previous [[Unit#Statistics|stats]], [[Unit#Natural Abilities|abilities]], and [[Level|levels]], but it may suffer a demotion if it was of a high rank and that position is already occupied by another [[Unit]].

As with [[Uncroaked|uncroaking]], uniforms and insignia are changed when the uncroaked join their new side. Decrypted seem to gain Wanda's insignia {{erf|1|144}} rather than the insignia of their chief warlord {{erf|1|116}}, but this is [[Wanda]]'s choice for units she creates {{blog|2009|08|summer-updates-026}} rather than a feature of decryption itself. Units like [[Wiener-Rammers]] with no uniform may suffer a change of color in skin or fur.{{erf|1|146}}

Wanda may be able to see through her units eyes, and if not, they will tell her anything relevant that happened to them. {{blog|2009|10|summer-updates-044}}

Decrypted still are able to gain [[experience]].

As they have zero upkeep, it is unlikely that any food pops for them, and thus unlikely that they need to eat and drink. It is unclear whether they can eat and drink.

It is unknown as of yet exactly how the Arkentools do what they do. It seems that they give Wanda an advanced form of Croakamancy, but it is a theory that it makes a combo-caster. Allowing Wanda to use a Croakamancy/Healomancy/Turnamancy spell to make the decrypted.

I suspect the concept of being "popped again" refers to the subjective cognitive dissonance between one's past loyalties and one's current loyalties.{{ref|Popped}}

=Real World References=

Decryption, in the real world, is used as the opposite of encryption, that is protecting data by turning it into a seemingly random sequence of symbols by means of a cypher and a key. Decryption is the opposite process, which takes useless gibberish and turns it into useful information, paralleling the process of taking a useless corpse and turning it into a useful creature. The same term is sometimes also used for removing desired content from protected sources (such as DVDs, music files and books). In this case, Wanda might have gained the ability to effectively remove the "DRM" from enemy units, allowing her to raise them without penalties and under her control. Alternately, the process of updating the MMORPG [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons_Online DDO] contains a decrypting step, possibly suggesting the process is just an update to the units rules.

This makes the term a double pun, the 1st one being on "getting the unit out of a crypt".

[[Category:Real World References]]
[[Category:Unit]]
[[Category:Proposed Canon]]
[[Category:Speculation]]

LIAB 6:11

2009-12-15T17:41:29Z

Dan Hoey: Copy footnote from page-by-page

{{paneler|6|11|LIAB|345|945|888|1240|10||11}}

----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|flashing}} 'Flashing' is the act of pulling aside clothing to reveal one's genitals, breasts, or buttocks.

<noinclude>[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|006:11]]</noinclude>

LIAB 6:5

2009-12-15T17:38:11Z

Dan Hoey: Copy footnote from page-by-page

{{paneler|6|5|LIAB|310|345|600|640|4|6|11}}

----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|flashmob}} A flash mob is a group (generally composed of strangers, organized by a small group or individual) who meet at a prearranged place and time and enact an unusal behavior long enough to attract the attention of and/or confuse passersby, then disperse.

<noinclude>[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|006:5]]</noinclude>

LIAB 5:9

2009-12-15T17:33:11Z

Dan Hoey: Copy footnote from page-by-page

{{paneler|5|9|LIAB|605|650|879|935}}

----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|Lady_N}} Lady Nerevar of the forums is adamant that the archon with long silvery-blonde hair is modeled after her.

<noinclude>[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|005:09]]</noinclude>

LIAB 5:5

2009-12-15T17:32:08Z

Dan Hoey: Copy footnote from page-by-page

{{paneler|5|5|LIAB|312|346|587|631}}

----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|Supox}} This plant strongly resembles a [http://wiki.uqm.stack.nl/Supox Supox], from Star Control II.

[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|005:05]]

LIAB 5:4

2009-12-15T17:30:33Z

Dan Hoey: Copy footnote from page-by-page

{{paneler|5|4|LIAB|21|346|294|631}}

----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|Mario}} This plant resembles a Piranha Plant, a commonly seen enemy in the Mario games.

<noinclude>[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|005:04]]</noinclude>

LIAB 4

2009-12-15T17:23:44Z

Dan Hoey: /* Notes */ Make link within footnote a text link

{{pager|4|LIAB}}

==Notes==
#{{note|Kain}} This unit resembles the character of Kain from the Final Fantasy 4 video game.
#{{note|brideoffrankenstein}} Wanda's hair is a copy of that of the Bride of Frankenstein; her outfit is reminiscent of that worn by Magenta at the end of ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show.'' At the end of the film, Magenta also wore Bride of Frankenstein hair, according to [http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1195481088/tt0073629 IMDB].
#{{note|joker}} Jack's outfit is a take on the classic Joker look, specifically referencing Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker from Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" film.[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096895/]

[[Category:Page Annotation/LIAB|004]]

LIAB 4:10

2009-12-15T17:22:38Z

Dan Hoey: /* Notes */ Make link within footnote a text link

{{paneler|4|10|LIAB|12|945|302|1240|9|11|12}}

----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|Kain}} This unit resembles the character of Kain from the Final Fantasy 4 video game.
#{{note|brideoffrankenstein}} Wanda's hair is a copy of that of the Bride of Frankenstein; her outfit is reminiscent of that worn by Magenta at the end of ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show.'' At the end of the film, Magenta also wore Bride of Frankenstein hair, according to [http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1195481088/tt0073629 IMDB].

<noinclude>[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|004:10]]</noinclude>

LIAB 2:9/Description

2009-12-15T17:04:25Z

Dan Hoey: spelling

<noinclude>{{subpage}}[[Category:Frame Contents]]</noinclude>
[[Wanda Firebaugh|Wanda]] sits astride her [[sourmander]], [[Arkenpliers]] now in hand. Her armor is seemingly leather; her leggings are red with vertical black stripes, the top is red with vertical red strips with black studs, open in the middle to expose a little inner cleavage, the two sides connected by three black strips. The armor is accentuated with metal codpiece, bracers, and shoulder pads. The shoulder pads bear three large spikes, and the bracers have several smaller ones. The suit is capped with a black skull-helmet, the teeth of which sit across her forehead, and which has two long black horns curving down off her head. Wanda's long black hair drapes over her sourmander, and her pale blue eyes stare passionlessly at the scene before her.

Behind her floats several [[dwagon]]s; a [[pink dwagon|pink]], a [[yellow dwagon|yellow]], a [[red dwagon|red]], a [[brown dwagon|brown]], and a [[blue dwagon|blue]]; and nine [[archon]]s, most in the 50s [[dance fighting]] dresses, two in the standard flight attendant [[raiment]].

LIAB 2:1/Text

2009-12-15T17:01:52Z

Dan Hoey: Footnote ref

<noinclude>{{subpage}}[[Category:Frame Contents]]</noinclude>
'''Narrator:''' [[Parson Gotti]], a.k.a. Lord Hamster.

'''[[Maggie]]:''' Negotiations are going rather poorly, I'm afraid.

'''[[Parson Gotti|Parson]]:''' Shocker.{{ref|Shocker2}}

'''Narrator:''' He was magically [[Summon Perfect Warlord Spell|summoned]] to [[Erfworld]] from a strange and pointless reality called "[[Parson's World|Earth]]".

LIAB 2:1/Description

2009-12-15T17:01:13Z

Dan Hoey: Footnote ref

<noinclude>{{subpage}}[[Category:Frame Contents]]</noinclude>
[[Maggie]], looking concerned, stands on one side of the planning table as [[Parson Gotti]], in his [[Hamstard]] breastplate and carrying his [[eyebook]], approaches the other side. Smiling, he holds his right arm across his waist, extending his index, middle, and pinky fingers while retracting thumb and ring fingers.{{ref|Shocker1}}

LIAB 2:1

2009-12-15T17:00:46Z

Dan Hoey: Add standard footnote formatting

{{paneler|2|1|LIAB|19|41|330|330|1|3|12}}

-----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|Shocker1}}The hand position is called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shocker_(hand_gesture) the shocker], and has been used in surreptitious cameos.
#{{note|Shocker2}}Parson mentions the gesture by name.

<noinclude>[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|002:01]]</noinclude>

LIAB 2:1

2009-12-15T17:00:08Z

Dan Hoey: /* Notes */ Copy footnotes from page-by-page

{{paneler|2|1|LIAB|19|41|330|330|1|3|12}}

=Notes=
#{{note|Shocker1}}The hand position is called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shocker_(hand_gesture) the shocker], and has been used in surreptitious cameos.
#{{note|Shocker2}}Parson mentions the gesture by name.

<noinclude>[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|002:01]]</noinclude>

LIAB 2

2009-12-15T16:59:04Z

Dan Hoey: /* Notes */ Make double footnote, wikify

{{pager|2|LIAB}}

==Notes==
[[Category:Page Annotation/LIAB|002]]
#{{note|Shocker1}}The hand position is called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shocker_(hand_gesture) the shocker], and has been used in surreptitious cameos.
#{{note|Shocker2}}Parson mentions the gesture by name.

LIAB 4:10

2009-12-15T16:51:04Z

Dan Hoey: Copy footnote from page-by-page

{{paneler|4|10|LIAB|12|945|302|1240|9|11|12}}

----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|Kain}} This unit resembles the character of Kain from the Final Fantasy 4 video game.
#{{note|brideoffrankenstein}} Wanda's hair is a copy of that of the Bride of Frankenstein; her outfit is reminiscent of that worn by Magenta at the end of ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show.'' At the end of the film, Magenta also wore Bride of Frankenstein hair.[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1195481088/tt0073629]

<noinclude>[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|004:10]]</noinclude>

LIAB 4:11

2009-12-15T16:49:43Z

Dan Hoey: /* =Notes */ Fix footnote edit

{{paneler|4|11|LIAB|312|945|672|1240|10|12|12}}

----
=====Notes=====
#{{note|joker}} Jack's outfit is a take on the classic Joker look, specifically referencing Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker from Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" film.[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096895/]

[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|004:11]]

LIAB 4:11

2009-12-15T16:48:25Z

Dan Hoey: Copy footnote from page-by-page

{{paneler|4|11|LIAB|312|945|672|1240|10|12|12}}

----
=====Notes====
#{{note|Kain}} This unit resembles the character of Kain from the Final Fantasy 4 video game.

[[Category:Frame Annotation/LIAB|004:11]]

User talk:Dan Hoey

2009-12-13T23:23:09Z

Dan Hoey: /* Editing annotations, especially footnotes */

Talk page of Dan Hoey, also a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Dan_Hoey wikipedia][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Dan_Hoey Talk] editor.

Until I get erfwiki e-mail working, I suggest you use my WP talk page for comments.
==Yay!==
Another experienced editor! Do me two huge favors, and:
*Add [[Template:mainpagecontrol|<nowiki>{{mainpagecontrol}}</nowiki>]] to your page
*Change up the Featured Article, Did you Know, etc from time to time.
Sad to say, I'm pretty much the only person who does 'em. Oh yeah and help with the [[ErfWiki:Improvement_Drive_Portal|Improvement Drive]] would always be great.
 [[User:Miment|Miment]] 11:16, 5 December 2009 (UTC)
: If I count for experienced, we're all in trouble. But I don't know what you're asking. Did you want me to put [[Template:mainpagecontrol|<nowiki>{{mainpagecontrol}}</nowiki>]] on my home page, talk page, or where? Where do I get the data to fill in all the empty slots?–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 13:55, 5 December 2009 (UTC)
::Well, I was thinking more like... ummm, from time to time, follow the various links and update the content. [[Template:mainpagecontrol|<nowiki>{{mainpagecontrol}}</nowiki>]] has links to the Featured Article, Latest Update, etc. You know, the front page stuff. So if you stumble across a really good article, or think of something for the Did You Know section, feel free to add it :P [[User:Miment|Miment]] 03:32, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

==Editing annotations, especially footnotes==
Up to [[TBFGK_86]] so far.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]]([[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]]) 13:51, 5 December 2009 (UTC)
: Why the booping boop doesn't the talk link work? –[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]]([[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]]) 00:42, 6 December 2009 (UTC)
:: Something that works everywhere '''except''' User_talk: pages? There's gotta be a technical reason for this, but it's still ridonkulatious.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 00:48, 6 December 2009 (UTC)
:::If you try and link to a page you're already on, the link just bolds up. So if you link to your talk page, ON your talk page, you just get a bold link. It will work fine elsewhere. [[User:Miment|Miment]] 03:32, 6 December 2009 (UTC)
::::Thanks for the explanation–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 03:42, 7 December 2009 (UTC)

Up to [[TBFGK 100]] so far–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 03:03, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

To [[TBFGK 112]], another page with numeric footnote tags.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 03:28, 7 December 2009 (UTC)

Done [[TBFGK 121]]–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 22:38, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

At [[First Intermission 45]]–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 21:41, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

Now at [[First Intermission 47]]–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 23:23, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

==References on Annotations pages==
[[User talk:SteveMB]] gives a standard form for TBFGK and therefore other Annotations pages. I wrote some of this there, but it's here so I can look at it more. If someone else enters this discussion, we can put it in one place.

The problem is that the standard is hard to follow, and does not prompt one to follow it. If someone adds a footnote to the page-by-page without adding the footnote to the panel-by-panel, it looks fine '''on the page-by-page.''' But the panel-by-panel has a footnote ref that doesn't have a footnote note. Similarly, someone can add a footnote to the panel-by-panel without adding the note to the page-by-page. Again it looks fine '''on the panel-by-panel''' but the page-by-page is screwed up.
–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 03:28, 8 December 2009 (UTC)
::You know, I've always wondered why anybody even bothered with a the ''panel by panel'' bit. It seems pretty wasteful. You can't hit "random page" without getting a panel. Like, every page that the comic updates creates 12-14 new pages on the wiki :/ [[User:Miment|Miment]] 00:22, 9 December 2009 (UTC)
:::The page-by-page is scaled down so you can't read it, and the relevant notes are too far away. But in panel-by-panel, you can see the whole thing, full size, in one screen. That's what does it for me.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 01:20, 9 December 2009 (UTC)
:::By the way, it would be good to be able to make "random page" skip the panel-by-panel pages.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 22:03, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

First Intermission 46

2009-12-13T23:06:33Z

Dan Hoey: fn archonfood cake

{{pager int|46|First_Intermission}}

'''Turns since TBfGK: 38'''

That evening's discussion with the [[Archon]]s ended up going a lot smoother than [[Parson Gotti|his]] first two attempts.

For one thing, there were only ten of them this time; the rest were off on various missions. For another, they were all in standard [[raiment]], which was a relief. He was there to learn [[Charlie]]'s secrets. Victoria's{{ref|victoria}} could wait.

They led him to the common area and brought him a cup of hot tea with milk and honey, and a piece of archonfood cake.{{ref|Archonfood}} They didn't mob him, they didn't giggle, and he managed to form full sentences. They got down to business with a kind of social, professional distance. They started to actually talk.

But it was still odd. Odd for him, and odd for them. They didn't quite know how to deal with [[Parson Gotti|Parson]], he learned. And this was because of one simple, eye-popping fact:

[[Charlescomm]] had no [[warlord]]s.

Before being [[decrypted]], they'd only had three kinds of people to deal with: clients, Charlie, and each other. From what Parson gathered, the Archons respected each other, worshipped Charlie unconditionally, and were out to screw the client as much as possible. ''(Charlie's Rule #3: We are in the business of solving problems for our clients. Corollary: Creating problems for our clients creates business.)'' They'd never had a warlord on their own [[side]]. Charlie didn't even use [[infantry]].

Faced for the first time with the question of how to deal with one, they had elected to treat Parson and any other warlord of [[Gobwin Knob]] as clients who had paid for "full service." This was an incredibly expensive option that few of Charlie's customers ever went for. It amounted to "the Archon(s) will act as if their [[Duty]] is to the client, and will follow any [[order]]s, including attacking Charlescomm [[unit]]s." There was also no penalty clause for [[croak|losing]] them in [[combat|battle]]. The client paid only while the Archons lived.

Charlie offered various options and clauses that could be added to his contracts, including the no-return penalty waiver. So most clients who paid for "full service" did it because they wanted to make ''personal'' use of the Archons, before sending them off to [[croak|die]].

Yeesh.

He couldn't get a sense from them about how they might feel about that. They had their professional faces on now. He didn't feel like getting into it, anyway. He worked through his list of questions, and they answered him plainly and pleasantly. This was more like a corporate meeting than a slumber party. He jotted down notes in the [[eyebook]] as they talked.

'''How many [[city|cities]] did Charlescomm have?''' One, a Level Five [[capital]] with truly murderous defenses.

'''How many units?''' At the time they had been decrypted, a little over six hundred Archons. About eighty percent of these were out in the field, either serving clients or standing by to be [[mercenary|hired]] near hotspots. They ranged farther out into [[Erfworld]] than most sides imagined the world existed. Another 700 or so [[golem]]s of various types (mostly cloth) guarded the city.

'''Did Charlie have [[caster]]s?''' None, as units of Charlescomm. He would frequently hire casters from the [[Magic Kingdom]] for specific work. He had an excellent reputation as an employer there.

'''Did Charlie [[pop]] anything but Archons?''' No. The capital could pop one every [[turn]], or three every two turns if they had hired a [[Turnamancer]]. Few other cities could pop Archons at all, and all of those required multiple turns. This might or might not be a function of the [[Arkendish]].

'''What was an Archon, really?''' A flying [[knight]]-[[class]] unit with a random special from the set of: [[dance fighting]], [[leadership]], and limited forms of [[Shockmancy]], [[Thinkamancy]], [[Dollamancy]] and [[Foolamancy]]. As Archons [[level]]ed, they could gain additional random specials from that set. There were four of them with the dance fighting, leadership ''and'' Foolamancy abilities at the [[Battle for Gobwin Knob]], and these were able to lead the [[Royal Crown Coalition|Coalition's]] dance fight. Charlescomm did not volunteer this strategy, but [[Prince Ansom|Ansom]] knew to ask.

'''So what was Charlie like?''' None of them had ever physically seen him. He had a special personal guard of Archons who lived with him in the main tower, but those were rarely seen either. All contact with Charlie was by Thinkamancy via the Arkendish, which was apparently a rush for them when it happened. None of them knew where Charlie had come from, or how he had acquired an [[Arkentool]]. All living Charlescomm units had popped during his rule. Charlie did not permit questions about himself.

'''What did the Arkendish do?''' Many things, most of them connected to Thinkamancy. Charlie could handle an unlimited number of [[Thinkagram]]s, and extend some of his abilities to his personal Archons in the [[tower]]. Any [[commander]] in the world could get those Archons' attention by concentrating hard enough, for long enough. This could take hours or even days, but Charlescomm would establish contact eventually. This allowed him to hire out to any side or [[barbarian]] in the world, and probably provided him more revenue than mercenary work. He was the telecom giant of Erfworld. This was the main thing he used the Arkendish for, but guessing its other powers was a favorite topic for the Archons.

'''What did Charlie want?''' [[Shmuckers|Money]]. More money, more reach, more security, more information. Archons were expensive units, costing a minimum of two hundred [[Shmuckers|Schmuckers]] per turn for the weakest. The strongest were closer to five hundred. Everything Charlie did seemed to be in support of growing a larger and larger fleet of Archons. Not one of them could remember him stating any kind of ideology or purpose beyond that. ''(Charlie's Rule #15: Some things are more important than money. COROLLARY: Most things are not more important than money.)''

Parson talked with them for several hours, until he felt like he needed some time and sleep to process it all. Though he was becoming more comfortable, these little women still had a creepiness that kept him on edge. The questions he really wanted to ask them were psychological. How did they feel now? About being decrypted? About Charlie? About [[Wanda Firebaugh|Wanda]]? About [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]]?

About... him? *cough*

He didn't think he was up to getting into all of that right now.

Among the Archons currently assigned to the city, he noticed that one was a flashy redhead named [[Ginger]], and another was a sweet, mousy brunette named [[MaryAnn]]. Erfworld never stopped throwing jokes at him.

Or did he create the joke by picking them out? Chickens and eggs, trees falling in the forest...

At any rate, he asked the two of them to join him on his rounds tomorrow, and continue the discussion. "Should be about a three hour tour,"{{ref|threehourtour}} he told them with a smirk.

Nobody laughed. But he was pretty used to that.

=Real World References=
#{{note|Victoria}} Victoria's Secret is a lingerie company; Parson is referencing the Archons' state of dress on his previous visit.
#{{note|Archonfood}}Continuing the "angel" joke with a refernce to angelfood cake.
#{{note|threehourtour}} Parson is referencing the theme to Gilligan's Island, a 60s television program that featured two young women in the cast; MaryAnn and Ginger, and choosing which of the two one prefers became a long-lasting meme.

[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]

First Intermission 45

2009-12-13T23:02:32Z

Dan Hoey: /* Real World References */ Expand footnotes

{{pager int|45|First_Intermission}}

'''Turns since TBfGK: 38'''

By his own choice, [[Parson Gotti|Parson]] had taken up residence in one of the little houses near the [[Garrison]], at the corner of Thin Mint and Moe. It worked better than his [[tower]] quarters for rounds, and [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]] was less likely to drop by and bug him. But it did mean that getting called to [[Stanley the Tool|The Tool's]] office for an ass-chewing always involved a long slog and a million stairs. That was the trade-off, and it was inevitable.

The new [[Tower of Efdup]] was nicely decorated and brightly lit. Parson thought it was kind of stuffy and fru-fru, but an improvement over the creepy-ass one with the body parts theme. It was possible to walk through the carpeted hallways and marble staircases without feeling stared at, or in danger of being groped by a light fixture.

Today, he had reached Stanley's office without even getting all that winded. His legs were tightening up, and some of the double folds in his gut were becoming singles again. As a deeply wise man named [[Hamstard]] had once said... hawt.

The Tool had wanted to bitch about the usual: their situation with [[natural allies]].

It was a weird problem. All the [[Gobwin]]s and [[Hobgobwin]]s were [[croaked]] in the eruption, of course. [[Wanda Firebaugh|Wanda]] [[decrypted]] most of those, but they no longer counted as a separate [[tribe]]. They were just [[unit]]s of [[Gobwin Knob]]'s [[side]] now.

As tribes, natural allies could [[pop]] new units if they had extra [[Shmucker]]s.
So Stanley had used the intervening [[turn]]s and a notable chunk of the [[treasury]] to repopulate the Hobgobwin tribe from the [[Vurp|lone]] remaining [[Knight]] to around two hundred units, about forty or fifty of them Knights.
But there were no Gobwins in Gobwin Knob.

And for some reason, they couldn't find any, anywhere.

[[Sizemore Rockwell|Sizemore]] had been busy, sending out parties of tunnel-capable units to look below ground. Many of the nearby [[mountains|mountain]] [[hex]]es had [[tunnels|tunnel]] systems, and it would have been normal to find a feral Gobwin tribe [[mine|mining]] for [[upkeep]] in there somewhere.
They had found only a lot of [[Marbit]]s, though, and Marbits and [[Elves]] would not ally with a side that used Gobwins, Hobgobwins, [[Witches]] or [[Daemons]].

His [[Mathamancy Bracer|bracer]] put it at a 98 percent chance that the [[Archon]]s should have spotted some Gobwins in the mountains or Sizemore found some below ground by now. They'd either rolled a critical fumble, or something weird was going on.

Stanley blamed Parson of course, because of the [[Volcano Uncroaking|volcano]].
Parson had stopped arguing that point (or any) with Stanley, if he could help it.
He simply shrugged his way through another pointless meeting about it, got some dumb and conflicting orders, said "Yes, Tool" a lot, and got out of there.

One thing he never volunteered in these meetings was that the bracer gave a 78% likelihood that there was something fishy going on with the lack of Gobwins and prevalence of Marbits.

And if there was, then there was a better than 92% chance that the agency behind it was [[Charlescomm]].

If Stanley knew that, he might go after [[Charlie]] immediately. Parson couldn't think of a worse idea. If you had a guy like Charlie undermining you for some reason, you did not let on that you knew about it. The thing to do was to figure out what Charley's game was, and play him from there. Stanley couldn't do that.

Parson wasn't sure he could either. But if he wanted to try, he was going to have to take [[Maggie]]'s advice and talk to Wanda's Archons.

Oh boy.

It had been several weeks since he'd asked any of the Archons to go with him on [[Regent|rounds]]. Besides the Gobwin problem, Parson had developed a laundry list of other questions about Charley during his strategy sessions with [[Jack Snipe|Jack]]. But he'd been putting off taking those questions to the Archons because, well...

His dealings with these perfect little [[flying unit|flying]] women had started out awkward, and only gone downhill from there.

The Archons shared a barracks-style accommodation that took up half of the second-topmost floor of the tower. It was like a sorority house in there.
Two dozen bunk beds, each separated by white curtains, took up the space nearest the main wall. The center of the room was walled off as a kitchen/larder/dining area, and the rest was a commons area with at least as good a view as Stanley's office.
Large double-plated windows on all sides could be pulled inward, allowing direct access to and from the city's airspace. The Archons kept it all neat and tidy.

The first time Parson had gone up to visit them, it was like walking into an 80s sex comedy. It was nighttime, and they were all wearing satin pajamas and teddies. A couple of them were walking around in less. Some of them were actually pillow fighting.
They were all enthusiastically happy to see him.

He'd watched a season or two of "Beauty and the Geek,"{{ref|Beauty&Geek}} which was a reality show in which a group of socially hopeless nerds share a mansion with a group of intellectually hopeless hotties. In the first show, each contestant must walk into a room, alone, with the whole opposite group.

He couldn't remember if any of the Geeks had done worse with the Beauties than he did with the Archons that night, but he didn't think so. He was pretty sure at one point that the word "hummina"{{ref|hummina}} literally came out of his mouth. Literally. Weak.

They'd taken him by the arm and shown him around, but it never got anything like comfortable in there. He'd tried to explain that he was up there to find a volunteer or two to accompany him on his rounds the next turn and talk strategy or whatever.

He then spent fifteen minutes trying to explain the concept of "volunteer."

Charlie didn't do "volunteer." Wanda certainly didn't. Nobody asked for volunteers in [[Erfworld]]. You [[order]]ed your units or you didn't.

And with that, he suddenly got struck with the creepiness of it. As they'd gathered around him in their lingerie and hung on his every word, he had started to entertain the idea that their friendliness to him might mean they... liked him? Were interested in him? Wanted him? And they were so ''impossibly'' hot. Short and small, yes.
But ''women''. Women built like little Playboy models. God.

But the idea that they might want him was right out the tower window when he realized what "no volunteers" really implied. "Want" didn't enter into it. He could order them to perform any sick, twisted, perverted, demented... ''awesome'' act he wanted to. Erfworld had suddenly given him a gift to fill the awful gaping hole in his existence where internet pr0n had once lived.

And he knew, he ''knew'' it was wrong. And completely, completely not what he wanted. There wasn't a way they really ''could'' volunteer to be with him. He had absolute power, as their [[warlord]]. He also had no power to be anything ''but'' their warlord. They scared him. His power over them scared him even more.

In the end, he'd just decided to appoint a couple of them at random and gtfo. The next day, he couldn't think of much to say to the two he had picked.

He did try again a week or so later when he had his nerve up. That somehow went even worse.

And now, here he stood again. It was another two flights up from Stanley's office to the oaken double doors of the Archons' barracks. They were shut up tight, but over the bare crackle of the magic torches in the wall, he thought he could hear faint giggling.

"I can face the peril," Parson muttered, letting out a deep long breath, "I can spank the peril."{{ref|Galahad}}

He sucked in his gut and knocked on the door.

=Real World References=
* {{note|Beauty&Geek}} Beauty and the Geek is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Geek reality television series]
* {{note|Hummina}} "Humina" or "hummina" is a nonsense word used (often multiple times in quick succession) when flummoxed by one or more particularly beautiful women. It was introduced in the television show, The Honeymooners.
* {{note|Galahad}} In the Tale of Sir Galahad from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python_and_the_Holy_Grail Monty Python and the Holy Grail], Galahad is rescued from the perils of a convent full of beautiful young nuns by Sir Launcelot. He protests, "Look, let me go back in there and face the peril!"

[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]

First Intermission 45

2009-12-13T22:50:32Z

Dan Hoey: /* Real World References */ Expand Beauty&the Geek footnote

{{pager int|45|First_Intermission}}

'''Turns since TBfGK: 38'''

By his own choice, [[Parson Gotti|Parson]] had taken up residence in one of the little houses near the [[Garrison]], at the corner of Thin Mint and Moe. It worked better than his [[tower]] quarters for rounds, and [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]] was less likely to drop by and bug him. But it did mean that getting called to [[Stanley the Tool|The Tool's]] office for an ass-chewing always involved a long slog and a million stairs. That was the trade-off, and it was inevitable.

The new [[Tower of Efdup]] was nicely decorated and brightly lit. Parson thought it was kind of stuffy and fru-fru, but an improvement over the creepy-ass one with the body parts theme. It was possible to walk through the carpeted hallways and marble staircases without feeling stared at, or in danger of being groped by a light fixture.

Today, he had reached Stanley's office without even getting all that winded. His legs were tightening up, and some of the double folds in his gut were becoming singles again. As a deeply wise man named [[Hamstard]] had once said... hawt.

The Tool had wanted to bitch about the usual: their situation with [[natural allies]].

It was a weird problem. All the [[Gobwin]]s and [[Hobgobwin]]s were [[croaked]] in the eruption, of course. [[Wanda Firebaugh|Wanda]] [[decrypted]] most of those, but they no longer counted as a separate [[tribe]]. They were just [[unit]]s of [[Gobwin Knob]]'s [[side]] now.

As tribes, natural allies could [[pop]] new units if they had extra [[Shmucker]]s.
So Stanley had used the intervening [[turn]]s and a notable chunk of the [[treasury]] to repopulate the Hobgobwin tribe from the [[Vurp|lone]] remaining [[Knight]] to around two hundred units, about forty or fifty of them Knights.
But there were no Gobwins in Gobwin Knob.

And for some reason, they couldn't find any, anywhere.

[[Sizemore Rockwell|Sizemore]] had been busy, sending out parties of tunnel-capable units to look below ground. Many of the nearby [[mountains|mountain]] [[hex]]es had [[tunnels|tunnel]] systems, and it would have been normal to find a feral Gobwin tribe [[mine|mining]] for [[upkeep]] in there somewhere.
They had found only a lot of [[Marbit]]s, though, and Marbits and [[Elves]] would not ally with a side that used Gobwins, Hobgobwins, [[Witches]] or [[Daemons]].

His [[Mathamancy Bracer|bracer]] put it at a 98 percent chance that the [[Archon]]s should have spotted some Gobwins in the mountains or Sizemore found some below ground by now. They'd either rolled a critical fumble, or something weird was going on.

Stanley blamed Parson of course, because of the [[Volcano Uncroaking|volcano]].
Parson had stopped arguing that point (or any) with Stanley, if he could help it.
He simply shrugged his way through another pointless meeting about it, got some dumb and conflicting orders, said "Yes, Tool" a lot, and got out of there.

One thing he never volunteered in these meetings was that the bracer gave a 78% likelihood that there was something fishy going on with the lack of Gobwins and prevalence of Marbits.

And if there was, then there was a better than 92% chance that the agency behind it was [[Charlescomm]].

If Stanley knew that, he might go after [[Charlie]] immediately. Parson couldn't think of a worse idea. If you had a guy like Charlie undermining you for some reason, you did not let on that you knew about it. The thing to do was to figure out what Charley's game was, and play him from there. Stanley couldn't do that.

Parson wasn't sure he could either. But if he wanted to try, he was going to have to take [[Maggie]]'s advice and talk to Wanda's Archons.

Oh boy.

It had been several weeks since he'd asked any of the Archons to go with him on [[Regent|rounds]]. Besides the Gobwin problem, Parson had developed a laundry list of other questions about Charley during his strategy sessions with [[Jack Snipe|Jack]]. But he'd been putting off taking those questions to the Archons because, well...

His dealings with these perfect little [[flying unit|flying]] women had started out awkward, and only gone downhill from there.

The Archons shared a barracks-style accommodation that took up half of the second-topmost floor of the tower. It was like a sorority house in there.
Two dozen bunk beds, each separated by white curtains, took up the space nearest the main wall. The center of the room was walled off as a kitchen/larder/dining area, and the rest was a commons area with at least as good a view as Stanley's office.
Large double-plated windows on all sides could be pulled inward, allowing direct access to and from the city's airspace. The Archons kept it all neat and tidy.

The first time Parson had gone up to visit them, it was like walking into an 80s sex comedy. It was nighttime, and they were all wearing satin pajamas and teddies. A couple of them were walking around in less. Some of them were actually pillow fighting.
They were all enthusiastically happy to see him.

He'd watched a season or two of "Beauty and the Geek,"{{ref|Beauty&Geek}} which was a reality show in which a group of socially hopeless nerds share a mansion with a group of intellectually hopeless hotties. In the first show, each contestant must walk into a room, alone, with the whole opposite group.

He couldn't remember if any of the Geeks had done worse with the Beauties than he did with the Archons that night, but he didn't think so. He was pretty sure at one point that the word "hummina"{{ref|hummina}} literally came out of his mouth. Literally. Weak.

They'd taken him by the arm and shown him around, but it never got anything like comfortable in there. He'd tried to explain that he was up there to find a volunteer or two to accompany him on his rounds the next turn and talk strategy or whatever.

He then spent fifteen minutes trying to explain the concept of "volunteer."

Charlie didn't do "volunteer." Wanda certainly didn't. Nobody asked for volunteers in [[Erfworld]]. You [[order]]ed your units or you didn't.

And with that, he suddenly got struck with the creepiness of it. As they'd gathered around him in their lingerie and hung on his every word, he had started to entertain the idea that their friendliness to him might mean they... liked him? Were interested in him? Wanted him? And they were so ''impossibly'' hot. Short and small, yes.
But ''women''. Women built like little Playboy models. God.

But the idea that they might want him was right out the tower window when he realized what "no volunteers" really implied. "Want" didn't enter into it. He could order them to perform any sick, twisted, perverted, demented... ''awesome'' act he wanted to. Erfworld had suddenly given him a gift to fill the awful gaping hole in his existence where internet pr0n had once lived.

And he knew, he ''knew'' it was wrong. And completely, completely not what he wanted. There wasn't a way they really ''could'' volunteer to be with him. He had absolute power, as their [[warlord]]. He also had no power to be anything ''but'' their warlord. They scared him. His power over them scared him even more.

In the end, he'd just decided to appoint a couple of them at random and gtfo. The next day, he couldn't think of much to say to the two he had picked.

He did try again a week or so later when he had his nerve up. That somehow went even worse.

And now, here he stood again. It was another two flights up from Stanley's office to the oaken double doors of the Archons' barracks. They were shut up tight, but over the bare crackle of the magic torches in the wall, he thought he could hear faint giggling.

"I can face the peril," Parson muttered, letting out a deep long breath, "I can spank the peril."{{ref|Galahad}}

He sucked in his gut and knocked on the door.

=Real World References=
* {{note|Beauty&Geek}} Beauty and the Geek is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Geek reality television series]
* {{note|Hummina}} This is a nonsense word used (often multiple times in quick succession) when flummoxed by one or more particularly beautiful women. It was introduced in the television show, The Honeymooners.
* {{note|Galahad}} Parson is referencing the end of the Tale of Sir Galahad from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python_and_the_Holy_Grail Monty Python and the Holy Grail]. Galahad wishes to face the perils of a convent full of beautiful young nuns, but Lancelot pulls him away, for his own safety.

[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]

TBFGK 110:9

2009-12-13T21:54:40Z

Dan Hoey: Copy footnote from page-by-page

{{paneler|110|9|TBFGK|450|509|700|750|109|111|12}}

----
=====Note=====
#{{note|Hamlet}}"O, woe is me,/To have seen what I have seen, see what I see!" is from ''Hamlet,'' Act 3, Scene i. Ophelia is bemoaning the change from the noble Hamlet she has seen previously to the madman she sees now.

[[Category:Frame Annotation/TBFGK]]

TBFGK 110

2009-12-13T21:54:01Z

Dan Hoey: /* Notes */ Explanatory note to Hamlet gloss

{{pager|110|TBFGK}}

----
===Notes===
#{{Note|Cogito}}[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_think_therefore_I_am Cogito Ergo Sum]. I think therefore I am. 
#{{Note|McLuhan}}[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_medium_is_the_message "The Medium is the message."], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_McLuhan Marshall McLuhan]. 
#{{Note|Fools}}[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fools_Rush_In_(Where_Angels_Fear_to_Tread) Fools Rush In (where angels fear to tread)].
#{{note|Hamlet}}"O, woe is me,/To have seen what I have seen, see what I see!" is from ''Hamlet,'' Act 3, Scene i. Ophelia is bemoaning the change from the noble Hamlet she has seen previously to the madman she sees now.

[[Category:Page Annotation/TBFGK|110]]

First Intermission 5

2009-12-13T21:50:42Z

Dan Hoey: Footnote popped again

{{pager int|5|First_Intermission}}

'''Turns since TBfGK: 1'''

"My [[Wanda Firebaugh|Mistress]] favors the term '[[decrypted]],'" [[Prince Ansom]] was saying, "but I cannot help but think of this as having '[[Pop|popped]] again.'"{{ref|PoppedAgain}}

"Popped...again?" said [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]] absently. [[Wanda Firebaugh|Wanda]] had left them alone for a few moments while she prepared some kind of parade thingy. He still had not [[Mount|dismounted]], but just kept staring down at Ansom's chiseled face and features. Prince Ansom. Was his [[warlord]] now.

Also, Wanda could bring back the [[croaked]].

"Indeed!" declared the man in front of him, with booming enthusiasm. "I once was croaked, but now am popped anew. The [[Titans]] have given me a new purpose...cleaved me to a new [[side]]...a new [[ruler]]... To your side, my [[Overlord|Lord]] [[Stanley the Tool]]!"

Stanley squirmed a bit in his saddle, and touched the handle of his [[Arkentool]]. This wasn't going at all the way he imagined. How are you supposed to rub it in when the other guy is telling you how right you were all along?

"Uh, Prince Ansom..."

"Please, Tool," Ansom winced. "It is a small thing, but--"

"Oh rightrightright," said Stanley, holding up his hand. Ansom didn't want to be called that. Insisted he was "merely a warlord formerly known as Prince."

These were strange turns they were living in.

"Warlord Ansom," said Stanley, "let's, um, let's talk about the religious stuff later, all right?"

Ansom nodded gravely. "Yes, Tool."

"Good." Stanley glanced up at the [[Tower of Efdup|tower]], then leaned forward in the saddle and said quietly, almost conspiratorially, "I wanna talk about [[Parson Gotti|Hamster]]."

#{{note|PoppedAgain}}A reference to being [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_again_%28Christianity%29 Born Again] in Christian theology.

[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]

User talk:Dan Hoey

2009-12-13T21:41:52Z

Dan Hoey: /* Editing annotations, especially footnotes */

Talk page of Dan Hoey, also a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Dan_Hoey wikipedia][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Dan_Hoey Talk] editor.

Until I get erfwiki e-mail working, I suggest you use my WP talk page for comments.
==Yay!==
Another experienced editor! Do me two huge favors, and:
*Add [[Template:mainpagecontrol|<nowiki>{{mainpagecontrol}}</nowiki>]] to your page
*Change up the Featured Article, Did you Know, etc from time to time.
Sad to say, I'm pretty much the only person who does 'em. Oh yeah and help with the [[ErfWiki:Improvement_Drive_Portal|Improvement Drive]] would always be great.
 [[User:Miment|Miment]] 11:16, 5 December 2009 (UTC)
: If I count for experienced, we're all in trouble. But I don't know what you're asking. Did you want me to put [[Template:mainpagecontrol|<nowiki>{{mainpagecontrol}}</nowiki>]] on my home page, talk page, or where? Where do I get the data to fill in all the empty slots?–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 13:55, 5 December 2009 (UTC)
::Well, I was thinking more like... ummm, from time to time, follow the various links and update the content. [[Template:mainpagecontrol|<nowiki>{{mainpagecontrol}}</nowiki>]] has links to the Featured Article, Latest Update, etc. You know, the front page stuff. So if you stumble across a really good article, or think of something for the Did You Know section, feel free to add it :P [[User:Miment|Miment]] 03:32, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

==Editing annotations, especially footnotes==
Up to [[TBFGK_86]] so far.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]]([[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]]) 13:51, 5 December 2009 (UTC)
: Why the booping boop doesn't the talk link work? –[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]]([[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]]) 00:42, 6 December 2009 (UTC)
:: Something that works everywhere '''except''' User_talk: pages? There's gotta be a technical reason for this, but it's still ridonkulatious.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 00:48, 6 December 2009 (UTC)
:::If you try and link to a page you're already on, the link just bolds up. So if you link to your talk page, ON your talk page, you just get a bold link. It will work fine elsewhere. [[User:Miment|Miment]] 03:32, 6 December 2009 (UTC)
::::Thanks for the explanation–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 03:42, 7 December 2009 (UTC)

Up to [[TBFGK 100]] so far–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 03:03, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

To [[TBFGK 112]], another page with numeric footnote tags.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 03:28, 7 December 2009 (UTC)

Done [[TBFGK 121]]–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 22:38, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

At [[First Intermission 45]]–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 21:41, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

==References on Annotations pages==
[[User talk:SteveMB]] gives a standard form for TBFGK and therefore other Annotations pages. I wrote some of this there, but it's here so I can look at it more. If someone else enters this discussion, we can put it in one place.

The problem is that the standard is hard to follow, and does not prompt one to follow it. If someone adds a footnote to the page-by-page without adding the footnote to the panel-by-panel, it looks fine '''on the page-by-page.''' But the panel-by-panel has a footnote ref that doesn't have a footnote note. Similarly, someone can add a footnote to the panel-by-panel without adding the note to the page-by-page. Again it looks fine '''on the panel-by-panel''' but the page-by-page is screwed up.
–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 03:28, 8 December 2009 (UTC)
::You know, I've always wondered why anybody even bothered with a the ''panel by panel'' bit. It seems pretty wasteful. You can't hit "random page" without getting a panel. Like, every page that the comic updates creates 12-14 new pages on the wiki :/ [[User:Miment|Miment]] 00:22, 9 December 2009 (UTC)
:::The page-by-page is scaled down so you can't read it, and the relevant notes are too far away. But in panel-by-panel, you can see the whole thing, full size, in one screen. That's what does it for me.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 01:20, 9 December 2009 (UTC)
:::By the way, it would be good to be able to make "random page" skip the panel-by-panel pages.–[[User:Dan Hoey|Dan Hoey]][[User_talk:Dan Hoey|talk]] 22:03, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

First Intermission 44

2009-12-13T21:38:31Z

Dan Hoey: Footnote Cruella

{{pager int|44|First_Intermission}}

'''Turns since TBfGK: 38'''

"I didn't think I was much of a 'routine' guy," [[Parson Gotti|Parson]] said to [[Maggie]], as they reached the corner of Whopper and Smithers.

Parson had decided to name all of the east-west streets in [[Gobwin Knob]] after Simpsons characters, and all of the north-south avenues after foods he missed. This meant that there was an intersection of Homer and Donut near the center of town, which he called "D'oh Plaza." He'd even had the [[Twoll]]s make street signs and numbers for the building fronts.

"But honestly, I'm settling into this. Breakfast, do [[Regent|rounds]], lunch, do sims with [[Jack Snipe|Jack]], dinner, read in the library, or hang out with [[Sizemore Rockwell|Sizemore]] and talk [[magic]]. It's kinda nice. Needs weekends, but it's not bad."

"Mm," said Maggie, walking beside him. They turned up Whopper Avenue toward the bank on Burns Street. "Just as long as being a [[warlord]] is in there somewhere, [[Warlord|Lord]]."

He knew what she was getting at. They had walked and talked often enough now. Even with a lot of his tactics and ideas getting implemented at the front, Maggie still thought he was wasting his talents. She was pretty stubborn on that point. It came up all the time.

Still, for reasons Parson couldn't put his finger on, Maggie was his favorite walking companion on city rounds. This made four days in a row that she had gone with him. She was sharp at conversation, a challenge. She could completely kick his ass with one sentence. That was fun.

He walked along, looking down at the tip of his [[Hamstard]] walking stick as it tapped the bricks at his feet. "Maggie... I'm doing what I can. You know?"

She looked up at him cooly, her gray eyes shining out like an owl's in the shade of her pith helmet. "I know, Lord."

"See that's what I'm saying. I'm kind of finding stuff out here... about myself. Like, how the hell was I supposed to know how I felt about death... about causing death?" said Parson. He didn't feel like adding, "until I did it." He was having a hard enough time just responding to [[Wanda Firebaugh|Wanda's]] requests for tactical advice. Fortunately, he didn't have to do much but play [[Mathamancer]], run the calculations, and say, "yeah, that'll work" to [[Prince Ansom|Ansom's]] fairly solid plans. The one time he'd said "no, bad plan" they'd done it anyway. And that was all just tactics; he wasn't planning strategy. He was off the hook, right?

"You do have some terribly unorthodox personal views, Lord," said Maggie. A strange little smile curled at one corner of her mouth. "One in particular, I find intriguing."

"Oh yeah?" The bank building came into view, and the two [[Decrypted]] [[Piker]]s at the door of it snapped to attention.

"Well perhaps I am mistaken, and I am surely well out of line in asking, but have you really had ''no'' intimate contact with any of the [[Archon]]s? Are you celibate, Lord?"

Parson stopped in his tracks. Yeah. That would be one of those kick-your-ass sentences. "Hold that thought," he said tersely.

They crossed the remaining ground to the bank. Maggie followed Parson inside. They walked across the empty common area, with its bare desks and cabinets. Parson peeked in the empty vault, then they walked back and out without a word.

About a block away from the bank, Parson said, "Sorry. I didn't feel like talking about that in front of Wanda's dudes."

She cleared her throat. "I see, Lord. But they are ''your'' 'dudes,' are they not? Certainly they are ''our'' dudes."

"Um, I'm not completely sure," said Parson, frowning and looking back over his shoulder. "From what I can tell, they're like the [[dwagon]]s are with [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]]. They're loyal to the [[Arkenpliers|'pliers]], and therefore to [[Wanda Firebaugh|Cruella]]{{ref|Cruella}} herself. For all I know, she can see through their eyes and hear what they hear. But if not, they'll prob'ly just tell her anything interesting when they can."

Maggie nodded affirmatively, "Ahhh. I see. In that light, your reluctance to approach the Archons for... ''that'' sort of thing is perfectly understandable. Sorry to have brought it up, Lord."

He nodded. They walked on for a bit. He knew he should leave it at that. Really, really should. But...

"It's not just that," Parson said. He stopped, and turned to look at her. "Yes, Wanda looking out of some Archon's eyes? That is... an extremely creepy thought. But it's really not what skeeves me out about it. It's more like..."

He struggled for how to put it. Maggie was a kung fu master of the neutral expression, but Parson had played a lot of poker. He could see the tiniest little smile around her eyes. It meant she was enjoying this conversation way too much.

"Okay well it's like... what I was saying before. I've never had that power before, and I don't know how I feel about it. If I understand things right, I could just like, [[order]] an Archon to take off her clothes and drop to her knees. And she'd do it, right?"

Maggie's eyes did something entirely different this time, they sort of flashed. "An Archon, or any [[unit]], Lord."

"Okay well... it doesn't work like that where I'm from," said Parson uncomfortably. "We actually have laws against that... against people in power taking advantage of their underlings or whatever. For that. I mean I seriously would not have expected to react this way to this situation, but it feels ''wrong'' to me."

Maggie smiled at him, her eyes crinkling. "What an utterly alien thing to think. But also, utterly charming."

"Graah. C'mon," Parson said, and continued up the avenue. They turned the corner at Maggie Street (the name had led to an interesting discussion on an earlier outing), and he saw the street was clear of Decrypted. "Y'know maybe if one of them was actually interested in me... But even then, I've got another problem. One that probably trumps the other two."

Maggie's tone darkened. "I see, Lord. Are you unable?"

"No! Jesus!" shouted Parson, throwing up his hands. "I'm talking about compatibility. Physical compatibility."

Maggie's laugh echoed down the street.

"What, seriously?"

"Maggie I'm about twice the size of everybody here," he said to her, in earnest. "What if I... can't? What if I, y'know hurt her?"

Maggie laughed again. "What if you cleave her in twain with your mighty broadsword?" she giggled. "What if your siege-ram is.. is too grand for the gates?" Her giggle fit continued until she calmed herself with a deep, grinning breath. "Oh. All men exaggerate their stats, Lord. You all imagine a weapon [[bonus]] that isn't there. If you ''do'' break her like a... [[wildlife|feral]] [[mount]] of some sort, then I suppose she'll heal fully at dawn. But the memories will last her a lifetime."

She took his arm at the elbow and smirked up at him. They continued together down the street. "I will be very busy next turn, Lord. Why don't you ask an Archon or two to accompany your rounds tomorrow?"

----
===Notes===
#{{note|Cruella}}A reference to the villainess [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruella_de_Vil Cruella de Vil] from ''101 Dalmatians''.

[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]

Hobbittm

2009-12-13T21:02:13Z

Dan Hoey: /* Real World References */ Use ™ glyph

==Proposed Canon==
Hobbittm is a [[Capital Side|Capital]] [[side]] that was part of the [[Royal Crown Coalition]], and has rejoined the RCC II. Their units wear blue.

The Coalition force included 141 Hobbittm units (according to a count made one turn before the main assault on Gobwin Knob), led by an unnamed warlord (commonly referred to as "the [[Blue Warlord]]"), who also represented Hobbittm in the Coalition's [[Royal Crown Coalition War Council|war council]].{{erf|1|086}}

Hobbittm infantry used hand tools to help breach the walls after [[Ansom]] made his solo attack and their Warlord ordered the [[Siege engine|siege]] forward.

==Speculation==
Like all the forces of the RCC, it is assumed no units from Hobbittm survived the destruction of [[Gobwin Knob]].

Hobbittm may have been responsible for providing more siege,{{erf|1|118}} accounting for its small overall numbers but important role in the coalition, in much the same way that [[Transylvito]] and [[Jillian|Jillian's]] [[Barbarian]] sides were small but critical contributions. Evidence for this includes the [[Blue Warlord]] being the one to comment, "We lost 40% of our siege," and commanding the siege forward after Ansom assaulted the walls, and the Hobbittm troops having picks and shovels. Whether or not this is the case, the bulk of the Hobbittm force (at least, after [[Parson's Siege Raids|Parson's dwagon raids]] on the Coalition siege engines) seems to consist of blue-liveried [[infantry]].

==Real World References==
The estate of J.R.R. Tolkien is known for zealous pursuit of copyright infringements. Thus "Hobbittm", a sarcastic nod to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbit hobbit]™. It also sounds like Hobbiton, one of the main towns of the Shire.

[[Category:Side]]
[[Category:Proposed Canon]]
[[Category:Speculation]]

First Intermission 37

2009-12-13T20:42:25Z

Dan Hoey: Footnote ref to the world as illusion

{{pager int|37|First_Intermission}}

'''Turns since TBfGK: 18'''

The [[Signamancy|Signs]] were all over [[Jillian Zamussels|her]]. It was interesting to see. Her hair was just a little longer every turn. Her cheeks were just a bit rounder. She was losing muscle tone, but acquiring a grace in her posture.

It gave [[Vinny Doombats|Vinny]] some hope that she wouldn't [[croak]] him when she understood what he was asking.

He'd never actually seen anyone before and after they became a [[Ruler]]. Like anything, it changed you. The [[Signamancer]]s claimed that all [[Stuff]] was [[Foolamancy]]{{ref|Illusion}}. Our bodies and all the things we see and touch were supposed to only be [[Sign]]s: symbols of their true nature. Vinny didn't know about all that, but a person's appearance was definitely a Sign. It told you how they think about themselves. And how others see them.

Nothing changes those things so suddenly and drastically as taking the throne. She was fighting it. She was denying it. But [[Jillian Zamussels|Queen Jillian]] was becoming more mature, more of a [[King|monarch]] every day. Can't hide the Signs.

There was no way she was ready for what the [[Don King|Big Boss]] wanted, though. He'd fought [[Don King|Don]] on this one, right up to the point where Don suggested he could be replaced as liaison to [[Kingdom of Faq|Faq]]. Then Vinny shrugged, and resigned himself. This was going to wreck whatever good thing he and [[Jillian Zamussels|Jillian]] had going.

When the call from Don ended, he'd been in [[Kibo]]. He had planned to spend a few [[turn]]s managing the [[city]], to make himself useful. But he broke off his rounds there, and headed up the river valley toward [[City of Faq|Faq]].

The [[farm]]s were boring. Kibo and [[Otoh]] were boring, too. Dumpy Level Twos that looked like glorified farms themselves. Only the [[capital]] was not boring.

When they'd arrived, Jillian had asked Vinny what he thought about maybe naming the new capital and [[side]] "[[Prince Ansom|Ansom]]." After thinking it over, he told her he thought the [[Princes and Princesses|Prince]] would have been flattered, but that he would've had a big problem with her being the "Queen of Ansom." Lacking any other ideas, she [[claiming a City|claimed]] the [[ruins]] and called the city [[City of Faq|Faq]] again.

But the failure of imagination did not apply to her vision for the city itself. [[Transylvito]] had sent her enough [[gem]]s to rebuild the [[side|kingdom]], on top of loaning her Vinny and a small stack of [[Goyles]] and [[Goyles#Skanks|Skanks]]. Faq was now a solid Level Four, and not like any city Vinny had ever seen.

It was circular, sharp, and shining.

The [[outer Walls|outer "walls"]] were useless against [[siege engine|siege]], even worse than Transylvito's. They consisted of a ring of stone teeth with a reflective coating of tin, inward-curving towers that terminated in spoon-like roosts for gwiffons and megalogwiffs. There was no gate. Vinny simply flew between these pillars and entered the city. A horn somewhere announced him as an arriving allied unit.

The [[garrison]] was a set of six more teeth, much taller, fortified with solid walls that joined them like webbing. Three of these walls had gated archways, adorned with Gothic patterns in wrought iron and stone. Vinny topped the walls, and veered skyward.

At the center of the garrison rose a [[tower]] constructed with all the ferocity of Jillian's imagination. It was shaped something like a white marble palm tree. The trunk was a twist of six massive columns, tapering slightly as they reached straight upward. The top of the tower was a miniature fortress, a bristle of glass and hard spikes, with ledges and platforms where many dozens of flyers could land, or hundreds of defenders could lurk. Vinny flew between the perches and platforms, and entered the tower.

The inside of the tower was all business. Defensive engines in various states of assembly were stacked in narrow hallways of marble. Faq didn't yet have the units to man them. Vinny followed the twisted passage to the chamber that served both as Jillian's War Room and her Throne Room. Two [[Stabber]]s in silver and white Faq [[Raiment#Livery|livery]] saluted him as he entered. A [[Royal]] guard of only two. Not even [[Knight]]s yet.

And there she was, a queen in armor. She was looking over a set of charts on a cluttered table with her only [[warlord]], a plain level 1 named Dave or Danny or something. He looked confused, and she looked angry.

She glanced up at Vinny, relieved to see him. That wouldn't last.

He knew what kind of pressure she was under. Spotty reports said [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley]] was somehow [[conquering]] every city he could reach. How were they going to stop him? Faq was pathetic; it needed everything. It needed all three cities [[pop]]ping everything as fast as possible.

Only now he was going to have to tell her [[Don King]] wanted her to dedicate the next 60 turns of her capital city's production to pop a Royal [[heir]].

----
===Notes===
#{{note|Illusion}}In Hindu and Sikh religions, the material world is held to be an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_%28illusion%29 illusion].
[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]

Jack Snipe

2009-12-13T20:35:12Z

Dan Hoey: /* Real World References */ Note Jack's raiment change in Summer Update

{{ImageStackRight|240|
[[File:TBFGK_113_Panel_9.jpg|center]]{{Stats
|name= Jack Snipe
|race= [[Men]]
|tribe=
|faction= [[Gobwin Knob]]
|class= [[Caster]] ([[Foolamancer]]){{erf|1|108}}
|move= 8
|hits= 6
|combat= 2
|defense= 2
|special=
|eyebook=
}}
}}
=Canon=
Jack Snipe is a [[Foolamancer]] in the service of [[Stanley the Tool]].

==Plot==
Jack is a [[unit]] of the former [[Kingdom of Faq]].
[[Jillian Zamussels]] refers to him as a master-class [[Foolamancer]] and genius at distractions. She also mentions that Jack may have had a crush on her.
His [[Foolamancy]] skills were such that he was capable of [[veil|veiling]] an entire settlement from observation. He was able to [[veil]] the cities of Faq one after another as determined by the [[Predictamancer_of_Faq|predictamancer of Faq]] and thus kept the location of Faq hidden for a long time.{{erf|1|107}}

=Proposed Canon=
''"May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?"''

'''Strengths:''' Understanding Others

'''Weaknesses:''' Clarity of Speech

'''First Appearance:''' [[TBFGK 24]]

==Riddles==
Jack frequently speaks in riddles.

*''A house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived''{{blog|2009|06|summer-updates-037}}
*''Fashions change, my good Lord, the taking of prisoners is passé. Skulls are the new shackles. But black still goes with anything.''{{blog|2009|06|summer-updates-037}}
*''The talent itself supplies the demand''{{blog|2009|06|summer-updates-037}}
*''Names can be important, and fools, and triangles, too''{{blog|2009|06|summer-updates-039}}
*''I'm afraid I don't understand, Lord. And also afraid that I do.''{{blog|2009|06|summer-updates-039}}

==Relationships==

===[[Stanley the Tool]]===

{{:StanleyJack}}

===[[Parson Gotti]]===

{{:ParsonJack}}

===[[Jillian Zamussels]]===

{{:JillianJack}}

=Speculation=
His sanity was severely harmed either by being linked up with [[Misty]] and [[Maggie]] during [[Stanley the Tool]]'s experiments into [[fusion magic]] or by [[Maggie]] severing the link and allowing the other two casters to take all the damage{{erf|1|084}}. He recovered after [[Jillian Zamussels|Jillian]] addressed him by name, despite the fact that being called by name by [[Parson]] had had little if any effect.{{erf|1|108}}{{erf|1|113}}

Jack, like [[Wanda Firebaugh]], seems to be extremely loyal to Lord Stanley, although for him this may be due to loyalty spells.

Jack's appearance, manner of speech, and frequent playing of the Fool as well as Foolomancer gives him a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean Shakespearean] feel.

Ironically Jill(ian) could arguably be the one who fixed Jack's 'crown' that is to say, she helped recompose his mind.

==Real World References==
*His new clothing resembles popular media depictions of pimps.
*Jack Snipe's crush on Jillian is possibly related to the nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill."
*A snipe hunt is a fools errand inflicted on a gullible person - for example, the act of sending an industrial apprentice to look for a left handed spanner or a bag of half-inch holes. (Or headlamp fluid and elbow grease.)
*Jack's appearance and name may also be a reference to the actor Jack Nicholson.
*Jack's behavior and looks might also be a reference to "The Joker," the comic book villain from the Batman universe. The Joker was famously portrayed by Jack Nicholson (whose pre-Joker identity was named "Jack Napier" which could be slurred to produce "Jack Snipe"). This connection is underlined in the first Summer Update [[First_Intermission_36]] and in ''Love is a Battlefield'' {{erf|2|004}}, where Jack is revealed to be wearing a [[raiment]] very much akin to Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker.
*Jack's name and behavior is also said to be a reference to the Jack Snipe, a European migratory wading [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Snipe bird].
*While Jack is suffering from the mental effects of the breaking of the [[Link|link]], much of his dialogue is drawn from or inspired by the Fool in [http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext97/1ws3310.txt King Lear], including such gems as "may not an ass know when the cart draws the horse" and referring to Stanley as "nuncle".{{erf|1|081}}
*Jack makes frequent quotation of real world literature concerning clowns, fools, or related characters. In addition to the aforementioned references to the Fool from ''King Lear'' Jack is seen to quote Caliban from ''The Tempest'' and Pennywise from the Stephen King novel ''It''.
*A jacksnipe is a kind of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksnipe boat]. How this relates to the character, if at all, is unclear.
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Caster]]
[[Category:Canon]]
[[Category:Speculation]]
[[Category:Real World References]]

Wrigley

2009-12-13T20:16:12Z

Dan Hoey: /* Real World References */ Fix goof

{{Stats
|name= Wrigley
|race= [[Men]]
|faction= [[Unaroyal]]
|class= [[Stabber]] (Spearman)
|move=
|hits=
|combat=
|defense=
|special=
}}

==Proposed Canon==
'''First Appearance:''' [[First Intermission 34]]

'''Wrigley''' is a [[Unaroyal]] soldier. A [[stabber]]-class [[Infantry]]man, he was a spearman. He served many [[turn]]s, mostly as a guard, in the [[City of Unaroyal]], and then travelled with [[Royal Crown Coalition]] forces to [[Unabrow]], [[Unatard]], [[Bohica]], and [[Warchalking]]. He took part in only two [[combat|battles]], both at Warchalking, the first when Coalition forces (mostly [[Marbits]]) took the [[city]] from [[Gobwin Knob]], and again as the defending [[Garrison]] when Gobwin Knob retook it. In neither battle, nor at any other point, did Wrigley ever stab or [[croak]] anyone.

Wrigley was [[croak]]ed by a Gobwin Knob [[Knight]] in an execution of all the prisoners after the reclamation of Warchalking by Gobwin Knob.

==Speculation==

On current form, it would seem likely that Wrigley has joined the ranks of Wanda's [[decrypted]].

==Real World References==
A reference to Wrigley's Spearmint Gum(Wrigley the Spearman). Furthermore, Wrigley never used his spear; therefore, Wrigley's spear was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mint_condition mint].

Wrigley Field is home to Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, who are famously "cursed" and have not made an appearance in the World Series since 1945. This futility is perhaps referenced in Wrigley's having been a Stabber all his life without stabbing anything.

[[Category:Proposed Canon]]
[[Category:Characters]]

Wrigley

2009-12-13T20:15:46Z

Dan Hoey: /* Real World References */ Fix grammar and spelling, gloss "Mint"

{{Stats
|name= Wrigley
|race= [[Men]]
|faction= [[Unaroyal]]
|class= [[Stabber]] (Spearman)
|move=
|hits=
|combat=
|defense=
|special=
}}

==Proposed Canon==
'''First Appearance:''' [[First Intermission 34]]

'''Wrigley''' is a [[Unaroyal]] soldier. A [[stabber]]-class [[Infantry]]man, he was a spearman. He served many [[turn]]s, mostly as a guard, in the [[City of Unaroyal]], and then travelled with [[Royal Crown Coalition]] forces to [[Unabrow]], [[Unatard]], [[Bohica]], and [[Warchalking]]. He took part in only two [[combat|battles]], both at Warchalking, the first when Coalition forces (mostly [[Marbits]]) took the [[city]] from [[Gobwin Knob]], and again as the defending [[Garrison]] when Gobwin Knob retook it. In neither battle, nor at any other point, did Wrigley ever stab or [[croak]] anyone.

Wrigley was [[croak]]ed by a Gobwin Knob [[Knight]] in an execution of all the prisoners after the reclamation of Warchalking by Gobwin Knob.

==Speculation==

On current form, it would seem likely that Wrigley has joined the ranks of Wanda's [[decrypted]].

==Real World References==
A reference to Wrigley's Spearmint Gum(Wrigley the Spearman). Furthermore, Wrigley never used his spear; therefore, Wrigley's spear was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mint_condition mint]`.

Wrigley Field is home to Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, who are famously "cursed" and have not made an appearance in the World Series since 1945. This futility is perhaps referenced in Wrigley's having been a Stabber all his life without stabbing anything.

[[Category:Proposed Canon]]
[[Category:Characters]]

First Intermission 32

2009-12-13T20:08:19Z

Dan Hoey: Footnote Bad Idea Bears

{{pager int|32|First_Intermission}}

''Art by [http://econniff.blogspot.com/ Eugene Conniff]''

'''Turns since TBfGK: 3'''

There were four [[dwagon]]s: a [[Green dwagon|green]], a [[Blue dwagon|blue]], a plated [[Red dwagon|red]], and a [[Yellow dwagon|yellow]]. The rest were away with [[Wanda Firebaugh|Wanda]] and [[Prince Ansom|Ansom]] on the road to [[Warchalking]].

Squinting around the sky, it looked like only the red and the yellow were saddled. [[Parson Gotti|Parson]] looked at the red. It was the biggest one, the one most likely to be able to carry him, if size counted for anything in Erfworld's magical flight mechanics. But that was [[Stanley the Tool|Stanley's]] personal [[mount]]. Even his Bad Idea Bears™{{ref|BadIdeaBears}} ("Apple" and "Jack") weren't going there.

The yellow it was, then.

"How do I call one?" he asked.

"Speaking or shouting the [[command]] will work, [[Warlord|Lord]]," said [[Maggie]], lurching a bit as she rounded the remains of the picnic and walked up beside him. Though he was not completely steady himself, he offered his right elbow and she grabbed it gratefully. "Not be- because they understand [[Language]], but because it hhhelps you frame the intent in your mind. You see. Experienced-" she swallowed hard, or possibly hiccupped. "Excuse me. Experienced [[commander]]s can command [[stack]]s with few or no words. When you understand your command, the [[unit]] will. Yet another fo-horm of natural [[Thinkamancy]], Lord."

Parson blew out a fruity-smelling breath and drew in another. "Okay. Hey! [[Yellow dwagon]]!" From four hundred yards off, it turned its head toward them and snorted. "Yeah! C'mere you big... goddamn flyin' [[banana]]!"

The dwagon J-hooked into a dive that took it swooping over the rooftops, directly toward them. Its wings were stiff and swept back as it covered most of the intervening distance in a single glide. As it neared their tower, it pumped its wings hard, three times. It took the tower like there was an invisible skate ramp up the side. Parson jumped back as it topped the parapet. The beast took up an indignant hover just above them. Parson could almost feel it asking, "WHAT?!"

Maggie let go of his arm, as he took a step toward it. Sizemore pulled the picnic blanket away.

"Can it land here?"

"Yes, Lord."

"Land!" Parson shouted.

Immediately, the dwagon raised its wing tips and drifted down gracefully. It planted its rear feet on the stone flooring, followed by the front claws. Its wings snapped and folded like a Japanese battle fan, and its stomach spread out on the floor.

"They are pretty amazing," said Parson, looking at it closely. It looked at him equally closely. "It just... came down like a dandilion seed, but it's the size of what, a van? A bus? A short one, anyway." He walked up to it and touched its scales, which were hard and slick, and felt like ceramic when he tapped them. He touched the saddle, too. Shiny leather, steel stirrups, braided leather reins. Probably too small. "Yeah this prolly has a lot in common with riding a short yellow bus. Okay, hold still!" he [[command]]ed.

On the third of three undignified tries, Parson got into the saddle. Planting his armored belly on the saddle horn and swinging his leg over the creature's back could not possibly be the best way to get mounted, but it got him there. The [[dwagon]] grunted and snorted in discomfort, or possibly simple disbelief at the situation.

Parson picked up the reins. He squirmed into a sitting position that his crotch could live with, and grinned at Sizemore. He knew he had to look like the fat kid on the coin-op ride outside Kmart. Hell, he'd been that kid once. Sizemore looked disapproving, but said nothing.

"[[Banana]]!" he commanded. "Fly me to the [[Tower of Efdup]]!"

Banana the dwagon, as it and Parson both understood was now its name, shuddered once. It unfolded its wings. It sat up, lifting Parson up a few feet. He held on. The dwagon flapped.

It flapped again. Then several times more.

They did not rise.

It flapped harder, stirring up a breeze on the top of the tower like a helicopter draft. Still, they were not showing signs of lift. Sizemore put his hands on his hips. "I told you, Warlord."

Parson looked down at his struggling mount. "Yeah. I dunno." He looked up into the air. They had attracted the attention of the Archons, who were drifting over to see what was happening. "Maybe with a running start..."

Commanding a stack is a kind of art form, Parson later learned. Even speaking units have a certain intuition for their warlord's intentions. The commander himself has to be sure about the difference between issuing a command and thinking out loud.

Banana turned and lurched forward toward the edge of the tower. Parson was too stunned at the development to say more than "Urrk," as the dwagon planted its foreclaws on the stone merlons and vaulted itself over the edge, unleashing a mighty roar.

As time slowed down, the first thing Parson thought about was the fact that time was slowing down. He wondered how this would fit into his understanding of relative time in Erfworld.

The dwagon was falling, more or less straight down over the side of the tower.

He then noticed that one of the [[Archon]]s had her fingers up and was "filming" this event. He had time to wonder who might be receiving the live feed of this view, or if Archons could "tape" the events they saw, and play them back later. He thought in this case that would be useful for talking to the insurance company.

He also thought that "Maybe with a running start" was a terrible set of last words. He should at least have said, "Y'all hold my beer and watch this."

Finally, he realized that time couldn't possibly be slowing down this much. He looked back up at the edge of the tower, and saw two small, worried faces looking down at him. He and the dwagon actually were falling unnaturally slowly. But definitely falling, not floating.

The ground came up, and Banana squashed into it, face first. The impact was hard enough that Parson was thrown out of the saddle and rolled on the bricks twice. As he lay in a heap, the nearby [[piker]]s immediately scrambled to his aid.

The dwagon roared angrily, and took off into the sky, leaving a steaming pile of acidic battlecrap on the pavement.

Parson sat up, with some pain. He had scraped up his hands, elbow and forehead fairly badly. A dozen concerned pikers were standing in a circle looking down.

One of them handed him a handkerchief. "Lord?"

Parson looked up at the circle of small men. "I bet you think that was really stupid," he said to them.

No-one said a word. He put the handkerchief to his bleeding elbow. "Well, yes," he admitted, "yes it was." He grinned. The faces looming over him were suddenly hilarious. "But you gotta admit, you gotta admit! I learned something today!"

----
===Notes===
#{{note|BadIdeaBears}}The Bad Idea Bears are characters offering poor advice in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_Q Avenue Q] musical.

[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]

Maggie

2009-12-13T19:59:49Z

Dan Hoey: /* Description */ Note resemblance to Catwoman

{{ImageStackRight|240|
[[File:Maggie.png|center]]
{{Stats
|name= Maggie
|race= [[Men]]
|tribe=
|faction= [[Gobwin Knob]]
|class= [[Caster]] ([[Thinkamancer]])
|level=
|move=
|hits=
|combat=
|defense=
|special=
|eyebook=
}}
}}
=Canon=

=Proposed Canon=
''"..."''

'''Strengths:''' Thinkamancy, Poker Face, Caster Links, Design

'''Weaknesses:'''

'''First Appearance:''' [[TBFGK 24]]

Maggie is a [[Thinkamancy|Thinkamancer]] in the service of [[Stanley the Tool]]. Maggie is initially very professional and self-controlled, but loosens up a bit when [[Parson]] is demoted and interacts more with her in a non-hierarchical basis.

==Relationships==

===[[Sizemore Rockwell]]===

{{:SizemoreMaggie}}

===[[Parson Gotti]]===

{{:ParsonMaggie}}

=Speculation=

==Description==

Maggie the [[Thinkamancy|Thinkamancer]] was part of a group of three linked casters, along with a [[Foolamancy|Foolamancer]] ([[Jack Snipe]]) and a [[Lookamancy|Lookamancer]] ([[Misty]]). This combination was used by Stanley as a command-and-control centre: The [[Lookamancy|Lookamancer]] determined the identities and positions of units on the battlefield; the [[Foolamancy|Foolamancer]] presented this information in a readily understood display; and the [[Thinkamancy|Thinkamancer]] relayed reports and orders. 
Maggie also provided the necessary magic for the set-up; only a [[Thinkamancy|Thinkamancer]] can establish a link between casters. 
She is initially described as a "cold fish" by Parson. She is quite effective and provided [[Parson Gotti|Parson]] with a lot of useful information about thinkamacy. When she is being didactic, as in [[First_Intermission_29]], Parson sees her manner as resembling [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catwoman Catwoman]. Their working relationship progresses eventually, and she grows to develop such respect for his abilities that she questions Stanley's decision to replace Parson as chief warlord of GK.

She finds a kindred spirit in [[Sizemore]] after their link, and the two appear to be quite, perhaps too friendly with each other.

==Plot==

After Lord Stanley ordered the breaking of the link, only Maggie left the set-up without damage. It is heavily implied that she shielded herself and channeled the damage to the other two casters. Therefore [[Misty]] died and [[Jack Snipe|Jack]] suffered since then from mental problems.

Since then she served [[Parson]] as adviser and as an instrument in a lot of his plans (i.e. calling [[Charlie]] and the [[Royal Crown Coalition|coalition]] leaders).

She was also part of the the short-lived tri-mancer link involved in the [[Volcano Uncroaking]]{{erf|1|135}}.

==Real World References==

Maggie is most likely a reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher Margaret Thatcher], to whom she bears some resemblance.

Her outfit, specifically the black blazer with white piping, is also surprisingly reminiscent of Number 6 from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner The Prisoner] - a rebellious former spy who refuses to bend to his captors' mind control techniques. (Given that this is a puzzling association for Maggie's character, this resemblance may be unintentional, or hint at an unrevealed backstory.) Maggie is one of the few Gobwin Knob units who does not wear medieval-inspired clothing.

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Caster]]
[[Category:Speculation]]
[[Category:Proposed Canon]]
[[Category:Real World References]]

First Intermission 18

2009-12-13T19:33:01Z

Dan Hoey: Footnote ring-kissing

{{pager int|18|First_Intermission}}

'''Turns since TBfGK: 3'''

[[Don King]]'s palace was a stately marble rectangle. A rank of fluted columns supported a flat A-shaped roof. Dark green vines hung down from a ledge, dangling over an inlaid pattern of square spirals in gold leaf. Carved into the A was a scene of the [[Titans|Titans of Ark]] enjoying the companionship of young nude females. The Titans were real statues, but the female figures were [[Moll]]s, holding various debauched poses that were changed up regularly. If needed, the molls could climb down and get into battle gear to defend the city, leaving the Titans alone up there. The artistic message was clear: Titans, if you let this city be attacked, you will lose your fun.

Just the anteroom to the royal court was more lavishly decorated than anything [[Jillian Zamussels|Jillian]] could remember from [[Kingdom of Faq|Faq]]. Red velvet drapes with gold-braided cords covered some walls, with others done in beautiful tile mosaics. There was a marble fountain shooting a jet of white water into the air, where it cascaded down over huge brass balls. She sat on a velvet settee, her feet on a lush strip of red carpet, and repeatedly declined offers of wine and sweets from attending [[Doll]]s in tiny white togas.

She was otherwise left unguarded. They had taken her weapons.

She didn't seriously consider trying anything, anyway. There were at least four [[warlord]]s, a [[king]], and probably guards and [[caster]]s just on the other side of the imposing double doors to the court. The King was debriefing them, which could take a long time. Jillian understood that. But she was starting to need to pee, and didn't know where to do that around here. Maybe there was a place behind the curtains?

She didn't think so. And for some stupid reason, the need to avoid a faux pas that would embarrass [[Vinny Doombats|Vinny]] was pressing on her. Worse than her bladder. For now.

At last she heard someone. An airy, muffled voice on the other side of the doors got progressively louder, until the guards inside clicked their bootheels and pulled the great black and purple doors open by their brass rings.

[[Caesar Borgata|Caesar]] didn't wait for the doors to open any more than he needed to squeeze through. Jillian heard him mutter something terse that ended in "Yer Highness." He brushed past where she stood, and took to the air in stride. When he reached the other end of the red carpet, he shoved his way through another pair of tall doors and was gone.

She turned and looked into the court chamber.

She saw Vinny, [[Leather Valese|Leather]] and [[Dewy Tulips|Dewy]] making modest bows to a corpulent man in a blue floral print shirt, short pants, and sandals. He was also sporting an ermine-lined, pinstriped cape. Behind them, the carpet stretched into the distance of a great marble chamber, filled with statues and riches, and featuring a high throne-like bench at the other end.

The warlords each kissed{{ref|KissTheRing}} a gem-encrusted gold ring on the King's hand. Just behind the King was a slight, raven-haired woman in a short skirt. A caster of some kind. [[Bunny]]? She was chewing on something, her jaw working and her mouth open, but she never seemed to swallow.

Vinny stood up straight and walked toward Jillian, holding out his palm. "Don King, may I present [[Princes and Princesses|Princess]] [[Jillian Zamussels]], formerly of the hidden [[Kingdom of Faq]], now a [[barbarian]]."

Don King smiled at Jillian more warmly than he had to his warlords. He took a step toward her and bowed his head, very slightly. "I'm afraid I have not entertained any [[Royal]] barbarians, Princess. I am at a loss for protocol. You don't seem to have a ring to kiss."

Jillian raised an eyebrow. "I'm always at a loss for protocol, King," she said. "Why not kiss your own ring for me, and we'll call it even?"

There was an awkward moment of silence, then the King's mouth split into a wide grin, and he broke into a wheezing laugh. His warlords joined him. The caster looked blank.

"Well arright, arright," said Don King, and he made a grand gesture and kissed the ring on his hand, smiling with meaty lips. Then he took the ring off and held it out in the palm of his hand. "Still. An insufficient gesture of respect I am afraid, Princess. And so I give you my ring. It was worth it fer the laugh."

Jillian didn't know what to say. Vinny and the other two looked surprised and impressed. Was she supposed to take it? What would her [[King Banhammer|father]] have expected her to do? She stepped closer to the king, and Titans help her, some Royal part of her bent her knees and she dropped into a curtsey. Ugh. Plus, it reminded her about her bladder.

She did not reach out for the ring. "The offer is too great an honor, Highness. But in place of the ring, might I ask a simple favor?"

Don King tilted his head and nodded slightly, "I believe it is too humble an honor for one of your grace and charm, Princess. But you may trade it for anything in my power."

Which meant "sure, but nothing too costly." This courtly crap was all coming back to her, though she had wanted to believe she'd forgotten it all. The ring was a test, and she'd passed. A non-Royal barbarian would probably have taken it. A Royal would know better. Well, she was a Royal, she supposed, but there was no need to wear it like a ball gown.

"Could you not call me 'Princess?'" she said. "That's the favor. Could you call me 'Jillian?'"

Don King smiled, somehow sadly. His palm closed on the ring and he placed it back on his finger. "If that is your wish. Jillian. Being a simple man at heart, I prefer 'Don,' myself, if you would be so kind." He turned and took one step down the carpet, toward his throne at the far end of the chamber. "But I must say the word. 'Princess.' Because it is your title I wish to discuss. Vinny, Leather, Dewy, you are dismissed. Stay in the [[garrison]] for the rest of the [[turn]]. Jillian, if you please, accompany me."

With that, he and the caster began to walk. Jillian followed, being careful not to step on his cape where it trailed along the carpet. She met Vinny's eyes as they passed, but she couldn't read his expression. He simply walked away, with the other two warlords. After a few steps, she called back, "What am I in for, Vinny?" He didn't answer. "Vinny?" The guards were closing the doors between them.

Vinny paused. He turned back to her and shook his head, grinning. "Uh. You're gonna wish it'd been the [[City#Known City Zones|dungeon]]." The doors slammed shut.

As she followed Don King and his caster up the red carpet, Jillian winced and guessed that Vinny was probably right. At least dungeons have latrines.

----
===Notes===
#{{note|KissTheRing}}A reference to kissing the ring of the Pope
.
[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]

First Intermission 17

2009-12-13T19:30:28Z

Dan Hoey: Footnote Jello Shots

{{pager int|17|First_Intermission}}

'''Turns since TBfGK: 3'''

[[Transylvito]] was a [[city]] that looked like you didn't want to mess with it. That's what [[Vinny Doombats|Vinny]] loved about it. Even though he'd popped way out in [[Duckula]], and it was 200 turns before he'd ever seen his [[capital]], this city was home. The black walls, marble columns and iron towers reached right up out of the black-streaked granite of the imposing [[Mount Mofo]]. Everywhere you looked, there was something sharp, something hard, something that could croak you. Just beautiful.

The stack swept in from the south, hugging the [[Terrain Type|mountaintop]] and approaching the city along the old aqueduct trail. Non-fliers could only reach the city by this trail, and the [[move]] penalty was murder. Low-move units (like, say, most [[siege engine]]s) might need three or even four turns just to climb the mountain. The capital had not been seriously assaulted by ground in thousands of [[turn]]s.

So the defenses were mainly towers, oriented for airspace fights. The [[City#Known City Zones|outer walls]] were almost ornamental, and would barely inconvenience an attacking infantry, a fact which technically made the city a Level 4. But the [[garrison]] zone was bigger and taller than some whole Level Fives, with their walls and all.

Besides [[Warlord]]s, [[Caster]]s, [[Doombat]]s and a few [[Men]], the city was mainly defended by [[Doll]]s, [[Moll]]s, Guard [[Goyles]] and Skanks.{{ref|ThisDegradesWomen}} The Dolls and Molls were animated mannequins and statues, used as much for decoration as defense. The Goyles were flying infantry units with some natural casting abilities, like [[Archon]]s. And like Archons, they were nearly all female. The Skanks were simply elite, [[knight]]-class Goyles.

As they crossed into the city's [[city#Known City Zones|airspace]], an honor guard of Skanks rose up to greet them, in full warpaint and body glitter. They wore little black dresses, cut low in the back to reveal their distinctive antler emblems. Crying "woo!" and "partay!" they swarmed the stack in twos and threes, putting glowing necklaces around the warlords' necks, and offering small cups of flavored gelatin without even using their hands.{{ref|JelloShots}}

With two of them clinging to Vinny's arms, declaring him "so hot" and themselves "so wasted," he suddenly thought about how close he'd come to never seeing this place again. To his surprise, he started getting a little choked up about it.

But then, he glanced back at [[Jillian Zamussels|Zamussels]]. Both her blades were drawn, and spattered with glowing necklace goo. She was using them to hold two confused Skanks at bay. She met his gaze, and if looks were battle-axes, she would have just split his face.

He laughed, grinned at her, and held up a red cup full of cool, flavored wine.

"'S good ta come home!" he shouted. The Skanks wooed again.

----
===Notes===
#{{note|ThisDegradesWomen}}"Dolls", "Molls", and "Goyles" (a mispronunciation of "Girls") refer to prostitutes in service to organized crime bosses. A "Skank" is a woman of disgusting sexual habits.
#{{note|JelloShots}}The Skanks are offering [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jello_shots Jello shots] (Gelatin dessert spiked with alcohol) from their cleavage.
[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]

First Intermission 17

2009-12-13T19:25:55Z

Dan Hoey: Footnote Dolls/Molls/Goyles/Skanks

{{pager int|17|First_Intermission}}

'''Turns since TBfGK: 3'''

[[Transylvito]] was a [[city]] that looked like you didn't want to mess with it. That's what [[Vinny Doombats|Vinny]] loved about it. Even though he'd popped way out in [[Duckula]], and it was 200 turns before he'd ever seen his [[capital]], this city was home. The black walls, marble columns and iron towers reached right up out of the black-streaked granite of the imposing [[Mount Mofo]]. Everywhere you looked, there was something sharp, something hard, something that could croak you. Just beautiful.

The stack swept in from the south, hugging the [[Terrain Type|mountaintop]] and approaching the city along the old aqueduct trail. Non-fliers could only reach the city by this trail, and the [[move]] penalty was murder. Low-move units (like, say, most [[siege engine]]s) might need three or even four turns just to climb the mountain. The capital had not been seriously assaulted by ground in thousands of [[turn]]s.

So the defenses were mainly towers, oriented for airspace fights. The [[City#Known City Zones|outer walls]] were almost ornamental, and would barely inconvenience an attacking infantry, a fact which technically made the city a Level 4. But the [[garrison]] zone was bigger and taller than some whole Level Fives, with their walls and all.

Besides [[Warlord]]s, [[Caster]]s, [[Doombat]]s and a few [[Men]], the city was mainly defended by [[Doll]]s, [[Moll]]s, Guard [[Goyles]] and Skanks.{{ref|ThisDegradesWomen}} The Dolls and Molls were animated mannequins and statues, used as much for decoration as defense. The Goyles were flying infantry units with some natural casting abilities, like [[Archon]]s. And like Archons, they were nearly all female. The Skanks were simply elite, [[knight]]-class Goyles.

As they crossed into the city's [[city#Known City Zones|airspace]], an honor guard of Skanks rose up to greet them, in full warpaint and body glitter. They wore little black dresses, cut low in the back to reveal their distinctive antler emblems. Crying "woo!" and "partay!" they swarmed the stack in twos and threes, putting glowing necklaces around the warlords' necks, and offering small cups of flavored gelatin without even using their hands.

With two of them clinging to Vinny's arms, declaring him "so hot" and themselves "so wasted," he suddenly thought about how close he'd come to never seeing this place again. To his surprise, he started getting a little choked up about it.

But then, he glanced back at [[Jillian Zamussels|Zamussels]]. Both her blades were drawn, and spattered with glowing necklace goo. She was using them to hold two confused Skanks at bay. She met his gaze, and if looks were battle-axes, she would have just split his face.

He laughed, grinned at her, and held up a red cup full of cool, flavored wine.

"'S good ta come home!" he shouted. The Skanks wooed again.

----
===Notes===
#{{note|ThisDegradesWomen}}"Dolls", "Molls", and "Goyles" (a mispronunciation of "Girls") refer to prostitutes in service to organized crime bosses. A "Skank" is a woman of disgusting sexual habits.
[[Category:Page Annotation/First Intermission]]